President denies scam involvement

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid went on national television on Tuesday to deny his involvement in two natorious financial scandals.

"I have already stated to the House special committee during our last meeting that all information on this is untrue ... I am not involved in anything," Abdurrahman told a pre-recorded talk show hosted by his spokesman, Wimar Witoelar.

The show was first aired by private television channel Indosiar at 12 a.m. then relayed by national television TVRI later in the afternoon.

Abdurrahman's statement came after the House of special committee reported on Monday in a closed-door session that Abdurrahman was implicated in the scandals.

The first scandal concerns Rp 35 billion (US$3.9 million) received last year from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation by Abdurrahman's masseur, Alip Agung Suwondo.

The second concerns a US$2 million donation from the sultan of Brunei that Abdurrahman said was a personal gift to be used for humanitarian assistance in Aceh. Only part of the funds have been accounted for.

The special committee presented its findings to the House plenary session late Monday and the legislative body is due to decide its position on the findings on Thursday.

Police have placed Suwondo and former Bulog deputy chairman Sapuan in custody in connection with the Bulog scandal.

Abdurrahman also denied that he had summoned Sapuan to the presidential palace early last year.

"I have been said to be the one who was taking the initiative in summoning Sapuan, but actually I was only summoning him from the waiting room (at the palace) to my office ... so Sapuan's presence at the time was on his own initiative," Abdurrahman said.

Commenting on the donation from the Sultan of Brunei, Abdurrahman said: "I accepted the gift, but it doesn't mean that I received it directly ... I received it in the sense that the gift was for the Indonesian people".

Gus Dur, as the President is called, added that "I have never seen the check, I have never seen anything".

He said the money was collected by (Ario) Wowor and distributed to some groups in Aceh by Masnuh, the deputy treasurer of Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization that Abdurrahman led for 15 years.

Abdurrahman admitted, however, that he had "supplied information" to Masnuh on where the money should be channeled in Aceh.

"But, all the money can be accounted for," the President said.

The House special committee said earlier that Abdurrahman and Masnuh had given inconsistent testimony on the donation from the sultan.

A leaked report of the special committee, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, said the President once told the committee that the donation was for humanitarian causes in Aceh, West Kalimantan, Maluku and Irian Jaya.

But, the report said, Masnuh told the committee that the money was aimed at financing humanitarian operations in Aceh and Riau.

The report also said Masnuh had told the committee that some 60 percent of the money, or around Rp 8.4 billion, had been disbursed and between Rp 5 billion to Rp 6 billion was channeled to Aceh, while Abdurrahman said that only Rp 4.2 billion was given to Aceh.

Abdurrahman also lashed out at the press on Tuesday for printing what he called "groundless accusations" against him.

He said that he could take those responsible to court.

"But the result would be that there would be many newspapers and television stations that would no longer dare carry news on the government," he said.

"Therefore I opt to remain silent ... the people are mature and in their own time they will make their own judgment," Abdurrahman said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Abdurrahman said he was taking a three-day break to monitor events unfolding in the DPR.

"Because of the Pansus (special committee) fuss ... I intentionally have been taking a break since yesterday until tomorrow (Wednesday) to monitor the developments without being disturbed by a lot of people," Abdurrahman said. (byg)