PDI-P pushes for graft probe of mayor

PDI-P pushes for graft probe of mayor

BATAM, Riau: Local executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will meet President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday to report on a collusion scandal involving Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir and Golkar Party leaders in the industrial city in Riau province.

Husbandri, who heads the Nongsa subdistrict branch of PDI Perjuangan, said the meeting was aimed at urging the party's central board to issue a recommendation for its Batam regency branch to follow up on the collusion scandal.

The Batam branch of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said they had recently found copies of a secret agreement signed by Kadir and his deputy Asman Abnur on Feb. 12 last year, requiring the two officials to consult with the city's Golkar leaders before appointing officials to strategic positions.

The agreement was dubbed an example of money politics or vote- buying between Golkar and Kadir ahead of his election as Batam's mayor. --JP