PDI-P fully supports committee to investigate Akbar, says Roy
PDI-P fully supports committee to investigate Akbar, says Roy
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Palangkaraya
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has
said it fully supports the establishment of a House of
Representatives (DPR) special committee to investigate the
alleged misuse of the State Logistics Agency's (Bulog's) funds,
totaling Rp 40 billion, by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.
"We fully support the establishment of a special committee to
investigate the alleged misuse of Bulog funds by Akbar since we
are determined to create a clean and accountable government," PDI
Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy Janis said here on Tuesday.
Briefing the media after the party's weekly meeting, Roy
stressed that PDI Perjuangan would always listen to the
aspirations of the public at large.
"The public has doubts about the legal processing of the case.
The establishment of a House special committee to examine the
alleged corruption will lend credibility to the ongoing legal
process," he said.
Over 50 legislators from virtually all factions in the DPR
submitted a motion to House leaders in October calling for the
establishment of a special committee to investigate corruption
allegations against Akbar.
Akbar, who is also the chairperson of the Golkar Party, is
accused of taking Rp 40 billion from Bulog when he served as
State Secretary in 1999.
Akbar admitted to receiving Rp 40 billion from Bulog, but
denied that the money was for his own or Golkar's use.
According to him, the funds were channeled directly to the
little-known Raudhlatul Jannah Islamic Foundation to buy basic
commodities for distribution to people most affected by the
economic crisis, which had beleaguered the country since 1997.
Dadang Sukandar, chairman of the Raudhlatul Jannah Islamic
Foundation, admitted that he had received Rp 40 billion from
Akbar to help people affected by the prolonged economic crisis.
PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said his
party's support for the establishment of a committee to
investigate Akbar would not hurt the administration of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"All factions in the People's Consultative Assembly urged the
government to fight corruption, collusion and nepotism. The
public would immediately realize it if the government used a
double standard for Akbar," he said.
Being the second-largest party in the House, Golkar played a
pivotal role in ushering Megawati into the presidency, replacing
Abdurrahman Wahid last July.
Meanwhile, deputy House Speaker A.M. Fatwa of the Reform
Faction called on law enforcers to speed up the investigation
into corruption allegations against Akbar in order to ensure
legal certainty.
"The so-named Buloggate II case should be processed
transparently to avoid creating frustration in law enforcement,"
Fatwa was quoted by Antara as saying in Palangkaraya, Central
Kalimantan, on Tuesday.
He said the public was awaiting the government's firm stance
in dealing with the high-profile case, which, many had said,
could tarnish the image of Akbar and Golkar.
Fatwa, also a deputy chairman of the National Mandate Party
(PAN), said his faction in the House would support calls for the
legislature to establish a special committee to investigate the
scandal, should other factions give their approval.
He said the motion submitted by 50 legislators in October
would still be discussed specifically at a House meeting later
this month.
The Presidium of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement
(GMNI) and the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) called
on Tuesday for Akbar's resignation as House Speaker, saying he
was no longer suitable for the post.
They also urged the Attorney General's Office to conduct an
intensive inquiry into Akbar and his cronies within Golkar,
following rumors that the scandal had been used by the party in a
political barter.
GMNI Presidium Chairman Bambang Romada told The Jakarta Post
that there was a clear indication of political bartering between
Golkar and other parties during last week's People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) Annual Session.
"The MPR Annual Session has shown that such a political move
took place when parties, whose interests were threatened by
Golkar, used the Akbar case as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile,
Golkar, which doesn't want its political image damaged, used any
means whatever to save Akbar," he said.
"This cannot be allowed to go ahead. Akbar should quit from
his post and the Attorney General should complete the
investigation into the case as soon as possible."
PMII Secretary General Hasan Abdulrochim said it was not
credible that the legal authorities could not take Akbar to
court. "The PMII central board will ask Akbar to take
responsibility in the case by resigning as House speaker."
However, both PMII and GMNI doubted the government's sincere
investigation into the scandal and its courage to try Akbar.
"The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which controls
the administration, will likely make use of the Akbar case as a
means of retaining its bargaining position, in order to continue
in power," Hasan said.