PDI-P defends decision to delay inquiry on Akbar
Annastashya Emmanuelle and Fabiola Desi Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has defended the delay in deciding whether or not to set up an inquiry committee to probe the Bulog scandal allegedly involving House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B. Janis said it was the only possible choice as it allowed for the possible formation of the committee in the future, while at the same time keeping the political coalition intact.
The party preferred to have a consensus as each political party at the House had its own interests, Roy told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He strongly denied speculation of a split within the party, saying that the party remained committed to going ahead with its support for the establishment of the House committee to investigate Akbar's alleged involvement in the high-profile financial scandal.
Roy made the remarks in response to the House's failure to establish the committee of inquiry, known by its Indonesian acronym Pansus, by agreeing to delay debating the issue until the next House session in May.
The decision, due to Golkar's lobbying, constituted another blow for Indonesia's struggle in seeking justice in the case.
Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar, is now in the custody of the Attorney General's Office. His trial is scheduled to start on March 25.
Golkar, the political machine of former dictator Soeharto during his 32-year tenure, is trying to avoid the inquiry committee to protect Akbar's political career and the very existence of the party itself.
Roy said that judging from the vote counting during Monday's House session, the plan would have been rejected as not enough PDI Perjuangan legislators showed up to vote in favor of it. A rejection of the plan implies that the efforts will completely end.
"However, we should learn to see that the problem is no longer in executive or legislative hands as the case has entered the courts, which is an independent judicative body that cannot be influenced by others."
Another legislator said that the consensus for the delay was taken for the sake of maintaining President Megawati Soekarnoputri's rainbow Cabinet, which is supported by representatives of many parties, including Golkar, the second largest faction in the House after PDI Perjuangan.
The legislator said that the final statement read out by House deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno for the delay was drafted by Ali Masykur Moesa, the chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, the strong supporter of 50 inter-faction legislators who demanded the establishment of the committee.
"Under this strategy, we are actually hanging Golkar Party for the next two months and it will be difficult for it to decide its next political move as the House did not decide anything," the legislator told the Post on the condition of anonymity.
However, a former member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Bara Hasibuan, said that the delay reflected a conspiracy to cover an organized political crime.
PDI Perjuangan was the most disappointing for its indecisiveness and failure to uphold the law in relation to corruption eradication, Bara said.
"PDI Perjuangan is more afraid of losing Golkar's support than the peoples," he said.