PDI Perjuangan opposes inquiry into Akbar scandal

PDI Perjuangan opposes inquiry into Akbar scandal

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The largest and most influential party, the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) announced on Friday its
rejection of a proposal to form a committee of inquiry (Pansus)
into a Rp 40 billion financial scandal allegedly involving House
Speaker and Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung.

After months of indecisiveness, secretary-general of PDI
Perjuangan Sutjipto broke the party's silence, saying that
members of PDI Perjuangan backed the ongoing legal process.

"We don't want to form a Pansus. Principally, because we
have faith in the legal process," Sutjipto claimed after a
meeting with his faction.

The statement came just three days before the House of
Representatives (DPR) will make an ultimate decision on the
proposal, scheduled for Monday.

With its 153 seats, the stance of PDI Perjuangan could
determine the outcome of any vote for a transparent inquiry into
the misuse of Rp 40 billion fund belonging to the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog).

The second largest faction, Golkar, has been in the forefront
of rejecting the proposal.

Deputy secretary-general of Golkar Rully Chairul Azwar hailed
the decision of PDI Perjuangan, saying that it showed a
commitment from the largest party.

"I appreciate that decision. It means PDI Perjuangan sees the
progress in the legal process of the case," Rully told The
Jakarta Post by phone.

He denied speculation that there were 'backroom deals' behind
PDI Perjuangan decision, saying it was more a common
understanding among parties.

Currently, Akbar along with two other suspects Dadang Sukandar
and Winfried Simatupang are on trial in the case. The judge is
give the verdict next month at the soonest.

Meanwhile, the fourth largest party, the National Awakening
Party (PKB) insisted that a transparent inquiry should be
established.

PKB was the main sponsor behind the maneuver of inter-faction
legislators that proposed the inquiry in October last year.

"The plenary session must make a decision. We don't want to
see another delay," said PKB's Rodjil Ghufron on Friday.

Rodjil was referring to a series of delays either in the
plenary session or in the steering committee (Bamus).

It has been nine months since the proposal was floated in
October, but its future remains unclear. It took only three weeks
for legislators to form an inquiry committee against then
president Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000 for far less serious
allegations. In fact the case was so weak it never went to trial.

The inquiry, however, directly led to the ouster of
Abdurrahman in July last year.

On the request of the PDI Perjuangan faction, the House
delayed the decision on the creation of the inquiry committee on
March 7 upon hearing that House Speaker Akbar Tandjung was
remanded into detention at the Attorney General's Office.

The open rejection of the largest faction deals a severe blow
to the campaign for a transparent inquiry into the scandal.

The Reform faction consisting of the National Mandate Party
(PAN) and the Justice Party (PK) backs the proposal to form an
inquiry committee.

"But we won't spend our time campaigning for that," PAN
legislator Imam Addaruqutni said.

Golkar had been threatening to withdraw its ministers from the
Cabinet if PDI Perjuangan backed the parliamentary inquiry.