PDI Perjuangan says Akbar's trial appalling

Kurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislator Roy B.B. Janis said on Friday that the ongoing corruption trial of House Speaker Akbar Tandjung was appalling as it had totally failed to meet the public's expectations.

However he fell short of saying that his faction would push ahead with the forming of a special committee of inquiry to investigate Akbar, who is also the chairman of Golkar, the second largest faction in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"The progress of the legal process in the case of Pak Akbar is not convincing," Roy said during a meeting with French Ambassador to Indonesia Herve Ladsous at the House building on Friday.

PDI Perjuangan has 153 seats in the House.

Akbar is currently standing trial in the Central Jakarta District Court for misappropriating funds totaling Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1999. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais said earlier that money politics were playing a role in Akbar's trial.

But House Speaker Akbar Tandjung denied the suggestion on Friday, saying he had no idea what Amien was talking about.

"No (we don't practice money politics). It would be better if Pak Amien gave a thorough explanation (on the issue)," Akbar said.

Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Ali Masykur Musa said on Friday that Amien's statement served as a warning that legislators in the House of Representatives (DPR) were susceptible to money politics.

"I can sense the reality of what has been suggested by Pak Amien. This is of course a serious obstacle," Ali added.

Asked if the PKB would push ahead with its campaign for the establishment of a committee of inquiry into the allegations of corruption against Akbar, Ali said that the political process should be continued.

"We are not affected by the legal process," he said.