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.