PDI Perjuangan not to dismiss Arifin

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle will not dismiss its House of Representatives faction chairman, Arifin Panigoro, over his alleged involvement in a graft case that is under investigation by the Attorney General's Office.

Speaking at a press conference after the party's weekly meeting on Tuesday, secretary general Soetjipto said that there would be a change of faction chairman before the People's Consultative Assembly's annual session next month.

"We will not fire Arifin because he is still under investigation and has yet to be declared guilty. But, before the annual session we will have a new faction chairman at the House, because his tenure is over," Soetjipto said.

Arifin, owner of oil-company Medco group, has been named a suspect in several graft cases, including one related to a loan agreement between Medco and state-owned investment company PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia.

Arifin, who was rejected by most PDI Perjuangan faction members, has undergone several rounds of questioning by the Attorney General's Office.

"We underlined that such a legal case should not be used by certain people for their own political interests," Soetjipto said. -- JP