SBY endorses replacement of KPU members
Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given the green light for a formal investigation into Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, and also for the possible replacement of all General Elections Commission (KPU) members, in connection with allegations of corruption that have plagued the poll body.
Susilo said Hamid Awaluddin was a KPU member when the alleged scams took place, although no summons has yet been issued by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the minister.
"In regard to Hamid Awaluddin... it is my prerogative to dismiss him from the Cabinet if he is proven guilty. I will allow the KPK to investigate him and I will suspend him as a minister once the KPK asks me to do so," Susilo said.
Susilo presided over an unscheduled, limited Cabinet meeting on Sunday in Denpasar, on the sidelines of the first national congress of the Democrat Party that he helped found. Susilo is the party's chief patron.
Attending the meeting were Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, Minister of Home Affairs Moh. Ma'ruf and Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh,
Hamid, whose appointment to the Cabinet was reportedly proposed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, has said that as a KPU member he received payment outside of his salary for his participation in the poll body's working groups.
A suspect in the case, KPU treasurer Hamdani Amin, said each of five KPU members received US$105,000, while the KPU chairman got $145,000 and deputy chairman $125,000 in kickbacks that were collected from companies that won tenders to provide election materials.
KPK has also named KPU chief Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, member Mulyana W. Kusumah and acting secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo as suspects and has detained them over the case.
Legal proceedings against Hamid in the near future may affect the fourth and decisive informal talks in Helsinki between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that aim to end decades of conflict in the province, and which are slated to start on May 26. Hamid is the government's chief negotiator.
Susilo, who has declared the issue of corruption to be his administration's top priority, said he would consult with the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the KPK to respond to demands for a major shake-up in the poll body.
House speaker Agung Laksono suggested on Saturday that the President issue a government regulation in lieu of law to replace KPU members, citing its key role in the upcoming direct regional elections.
The same request would also be made by the KPK, its deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said.
Terms of current KPU members will not expire until next March, but Susilo has agreed that a reshuffle would be necessary if the investigation into the case affected the poll body's performance.
If deemed urgent, the consultation should take place on Monday as Susilo is due to begin a two-week overseas visit on Tuesday morning.
As the head of state, the President selects KPU member candidates who are then scrutinized by the House. The KPU falls under the authority of the President.
Susilo said he was also pondering a suggestion from the KPK that Nazaruddin be suspended to facilitate the investigation.
However, chairman of the House's Commission II on domestic and political affairs Ferry Mursyidan Baldan suggested that the President apply Law No. 12/2003 on general elections, which stipulates that KPU members who are charged with crimes be stood down until a legally binding verdict from the Supreme Court is handed down.