PKB sets sights on Golkar scandal probe

PKB sets sights on Golkar scandal probe

JAKARTA (JP): The country could see another round of political
probes into financial scandals if the National Awakening Party
(PKB) has its way by setting up a special committee to
investigate financial improprieties involving the Golkar Party.

The PKB faction in the House of Representatives is already
setting its sights on proposing such an investigation into
allegations that Golkar siphoned off Rp 90 billion from the
National Logistics Agency (Bulog) for use in the 1999 general
election.

"Our faction is still collecting data and evidence, including
data from Minister of Defense Mahfud and the State Audit Agency,
before proposing an investigation into the scandal,"
Taufikurrahman Saleh, chairman of the PKB faction, said here on
Friday.

He claimed his faction already had "reliable information" that
such a donation was disbursed by Bulog officials to Golkar
figures, and not directly to the party.

Taufikurrahman added that his faction had met and urged
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, who himself is a Golkar Party
member, to be proactive in carrying out an intensive
investigation not only into the Bulog issue, but also into
reported financial leakages from state-owned oil company PT
Pertamina and the Bank Indonesia liquidity support scheme (BLBI).

"Our faction has suspicions that Golkar figures were involved
in both these scandals," he said.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an outspoken member of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), would not say
whether his faction would support the establishment of a new
special committee but remarked that several Golkar figures would
be in a difficult position if a probe were launched.

"The defense minister's information is accurate and numerous
Golkar figures would likely face prosecution if the financial
scandals were investigated," he stressed.

He said the Supreme Court could not liquidate the Golkar Party
whatever the outcome of such a probe, but any of its figures who
were implicated should be prosecuted.

Minister of Defense Mahfud MD earlier this week publicly
alleged that Golkar had used money from Bulog.

Meanwhile, Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the Golkar faction in
the House, challenged Mahfud's remarks.

"Mahfud should not talk so much. If he has strong evidence
that Golkar obtained Rp 90 billion from Bulog, he should bring it
to court. We are ready to accept an investigation into the
scandal," he said here on Friday.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung conceded on Wednesday that he
was deeply concerned over the numerous problems his party was
facing.

"I can't understand why certain sides are trying to discredit
Golkar. The present Golkar is a political party with a new
paradigm and it's different from Golkar as a mass grouping during
the New Order era," Akbar said.

"We have no objection if the government prosecutes any Golkar
figures who were allegedly involved in past corruption," said
Akbar, while declining to categorize Mahfud's statement as
slander.

Another PKB member, Ali Masykur Musa, said that if the House
was prepared to form a committee to investigate the scandals
allegedly involving the President, "then why don't they form a
similar committee to investigate the financial scandals involving
Golkar?"

Ali, however, maintained that his faction would not lobby
other factions for the establishment of such a committee.

"Let's just see how far this issue can go. This is the perfect
time to see who are the New Order loyalists and who are the
supporters of reform," Ali said. (02/rms)