PDI Perjuangan stops challenge to Gus Dur
PDI Perjuangan stops challenge to Gus Dur
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' bid to issue an
opinion of discontent with President Abdurrahman Wahid suffered a
major blow on Tuesday when the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction dropped its support.
The surprise move was announced by PDI Perjuangan legislator
Panda Nababan during a plenary session to consider two proposals
regarding the House's response to the President's reply to the
interpellation motion.
"PDI Perjuangan faction considered the proceeding complete
when the President presented his reply to the interpellation
motion. Many things were accomplished during the People's
Consultative Assembly Annual Session to control the government,"
Panda told the session which was presided over by House deputy
speaker A.M. Fatwa.
The withdrawal of PDI Perjuangan, which holds 153 seats in the
House, will virtually kill the first proposal demanding that the
House issue a statement of dissatisfaction with the President's
dismissal of state minister for investment and state enterprises
development Laksamana Sukardi and minister of industry and trade
Yusuf Kalla in April.
Some 235 legislators, including those from PDI Perjuangan, had
supported the proposal originally.
The other proposal, signed by 25 legislators, mostly
representatives of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB),
asked the House to accept Abdurrahman's explanation.
With PDI Perjuangan reversing its earlier stance, Panda
questioned the first proposal's validity.
"From now on the sponsors of the proposal should no longer
claim to have won support from 252 legislators," he said.
Another PDI Perjuangan legislator Suratal asked the House to
forgive the President since Abdurrahman apologized during his
reply to interpellation.
"Although Gus Dur did not mention his mistakes in detail, he
apologized. We should not complicate the matter," Suratal said,
referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
He suggested that in the future the House initiate
interpellation motions on more substantive matters, such as
national disintegration or the economic crisis.
Fatwa said the fate of the two proposals would be decided by
the House's consultative body (Bamus).
"Since the proposals already have been submitted, let Bamus
decide," Fatwa who is also deputy chairman of the National
Mandate Party (PAN) said.
Earlier in the session, Hafiz Nawawi, the spokesman for the
group supporting the first proposal, demanded the House declare
its discontent with Abdurrahman's reply.
"The President's reply did not touch the substance of the
House's interpellation motion," Hafiz from Golkar read the
proposal which was signed in July.
Spokesman for the opposition legislators Andi Najmi Fuadi said
a response to the dismissal of Laksamana and Kalla was no longer
relevant following the Cabinet reshuffle.
Scandals
Tuesday's plenary session also agreed on the composition of
the House's special committee to investigate the Rp 35 billion
scandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and US$2
million given to Abdurrahman by the Sultan of Brunei to assist
with problems in Aceh.
The team consists of 50 legislators, 15 from PDI Perjuangan,
12 from Golkar, six from the United Development Party (PPP), five
from PKB and four from the Reform Faction.
Several outspoken legislators will sit on the committee,
including Ade Komaruddin from Golkar, Suryadharma Ali from PPP
and Alvin Lie from Reform Faction. PDI Perjuangan has yet to
decide its representatives.
The establishment of the committee followed the House's
plenary session last week which decided to investigate the
scandals that allegedly implicate Abdurrahman. (jun)