PDI-P defends Taufik's role as politician

PDI-P defends Taufik's role as politician

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) defended
on Tuesday the role of Taufik Kiemas, the husband of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, against a call for him to resign from the
House of Representatives to avoid any conflict of interest.

Speaking to journalists after the party's weekly meeting on
Tuesday, secretary general Soetjipto said that Taufik had so far
played a proper role as a politician and the President's husband
and had never mixed the party's interests with the running of
government.

Taufik is effective at criticizing the President as they are
husband and wife, Soetjipto said.

"But we understand that from a political point of view we have
to pay attention to public criticism and advice," he said.

On Monday, noted economist Sjahrir urged Taufik to resign from
his post as a legislator, saying that it would have a negative
political effect for the House if the President's husband was
part of an institution that conducts checks and balances on the
president.

Sjahrir said there would be a conflict of interest between the
president and the House if the president's husband was one of its
members.

"We will pay attention to the suggestion from such a noted
person, though we have yet to discuss the possibility of
relieving Taufik from the House," Soetjipto said.

"We need further discussions with the party executive board
regarding this case," he said, after a meeting led by Megawati
Soekarnoputri as the chairwoman of the largest party in the
country.

Taufik, a businessman and politician, played a very
significant role in the ascension of Megawati to the presidency
in July, replacing former president Abdurrahman Wahid.

However, for many of his political opponents, he has always
been considered a "dirty" businessman and a person who meddles
with state affairs.

Megawati, after being appointed president, ordered all of her
close relatives to stay out of business and not be involved in
corruption, collusion and nepotism. She even asked Taufik not to
interfere in state affairs.

Separately, a PDI Perjuangan member and close aide of Taufik,
Tjahyo Kumolo, said that, as a politician, Taufik had always
played a proper role and it would be unfair to ask for his
resignation as he had already given up his position as a
businessman.

"He has been a politician for a long time and it only seems
natural that he remains a member of the House," he said, as
quoted by Antara.