PPP recalls member from DPR special committee

PPP recalls member from DPR special committee

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) has abruptly
recalled Habil Marati's membership in the House of
Representatives' Special Committee due difference in approach to
financial scandals allegedly linked to the President.

While the party gave no official reason for the change, Habil
claimed that it was due to differences over the true mission of
the committee.

Habil said he did not condone the special committee's hidden
mission to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid who was believed to
be involved in the two scandals.

"I have the impression the special committee is conditioned by
certain groups in the House to topple the President," he said.

Achmad Ferial, who was appointed by the party to replace
Habil, confirmed his colleague's replacement.

He brushed aside the reasons for the change saying that Habil
may have been needed by the party for other more important
committees.

Nevertheless, he conceded that "the policy of the special
committee's chairman differs with his (Habil's) personal stand".

The committee was formed to investigate the Bulog scandal
centering on the release of Rp 35 billion from one of the
agency's foundations to the President's masseuse, and possible
improprieties related to a $2 million donation from the Sultan of
Brunei to the President.

On Monday, the special committee continued its probe by
questioning behind closed doors two executive staff from Bulog's
Yanatera Foundation, Muharto and Mulyono Makmun, along with Soleh
Sofyan former chief of Bulog's general affairs.

Didik Supriyanto who presided over the meeting, later told
journalists that they had testified that former Bulog deputy
chairman Sapuan agreed to disburse Rp 35 billion to masseur
Suwondo as part of an effort to maintain Bulog which be believed
was to be dissolved by the President.

When asked by journalists, Didik further denied suggestions
that the probe was part of an elaborate plan to topple the
President.

Meanwhile, Bambang Warih, a former legislator from the Golkar
Party, called on the House to also investigate the misuse by
former president Soeharto and his regime of non-budgetary funds
worth trillions of rupiahs in Bulog and the state oil company
Pertamina during the 1980s.(rms)