PKS boycotts interpellation motion

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has dealt an interpellation motion against the government a major blow following the withdrawal of its support for the move that was being spearheaded by House of Representatives lawmakers from opposition parties.

The motion could be lost if Vice President Jusuf Kalla's Golkar Party manages to persuade the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction to follow suit.

PKB deputy chairman Mahfud M.D. admitted on Sunday that his party had been approached by Golkar.

The interpellation seeks an explanation from the government for a controversial circular disseminated by vice presidential secretary Priyono Tjiptoherijanto last month, and was originally signed by 19 lawmakers from the PKS, PKB, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN), Reform Star Party (PBR), Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), and Democratic Pioneer Star (BPD) factions.

Kalla's Golkar and Susilo's Democratic Party refused to back the move.

An interpellation motion requires support of at least 10 legislators from at least two factions, and then needs approval from a plenary session of the House.

With the PKS' exit, the move could still succeed as the seven factions supporting the motion control 321 of the 550 seats. But if PKB, which has 56 seats, strikes a deal with Golkar, the motion will fail.

PKS says the issuance of the circular was an internal problem in the vice presidential office, thus requires no response from the House.

"It's not a substantial matter. We considered the issue settled after the secretary of the vice presidential office resigned," PKS faction chairman Untung Wahono told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Untung said PKS lawmaker Zulkieflimansyah had withdrawn his signature in support of the motion.

The circular, which Priyono said was issued after a briefing from Kalla, asks Cabinet ministers and heads of government institutions to consult House leaders before attending hearings of House commissions, which often turn into empty, time-wasting debates.

Signatories to the motion said that Kalla had acted beyond his authority.

Kalla denied having ordered Priyono to distribute the circular.

PDI-P legislator Hasto Kristiyanto, one of the motion's signatories, said the Vice President had gone beyond his authority.

"We want clarification from the President if he instructed the Vice President to assess the relationship between the House and the government," he told the Post on Sunday.

House legislators had previously filed an interpellation motion to seek clarification from the President over his decision to revoke a decree of his predecessor, Megawati Soekarnoputri, on the replacement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander.

Abdurrahman Wahid was the last president to appear before a House plenary meeting to explain his decision to dismiss Laksamana Sukardi and Jusuf Kalla as state ministers for alleged corruption in 2001. Abdurrahman was later impeached.