Sex scandal hits PDI-P legislators

Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

Two Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) legislators from the South Lampung legislative council have been under threat of recall after they were allegedly caught red-handed having sex with two women in a hotel in the regency.

Reliable sources at the special committee set up by the regency legislature to investigate the sex scandal, said the committee would ask PDI Perjuangan to recall the two before they were fired in a plenary session of the legislative council.

The sources said that the two, identified as YA and AY, admitted to having sex with two women who were not their wives after being caught red-handed, and that their action had tarnished the legislative council's image.

Qorilnilwan, an activist in Bandar Lampung, called on the local chapter of PDI Perjuangan to recall the two legislators before they were fired by the legislature.

"PDI Perjuangan should recall the two legislators and take the scandal to the local police for further investigation. Their immoral deed has upset local Muslims who were staging a Koran recital contest (MTQ) only 50 meters from the hotel," he said.

He regretted that the two legislators, who are public figures, had committed the deed, instead of providing a good example for the people they represent.

AY and YA were allegedly caught red-handed having sex with the two women at the hotel by several activists on April 18, 2002 while the Koran recital contest was taking place.

Ema Susanti, a feminist, lambasted the scandal, saying it was an insult to women and against the provincial legislative council's code of ethics.

Sutrisno Wirohusodo, acting chairman of PDI Perjuangan, regretted the scandal, saying his faction was still investigating it.

"The two will be recalled if they are proven guilty of involvement in this shameful and immoral deed," he said.

He said his faction would also summon the activists who caught them red-handed at the hotel.

In another related development, 20 supporters of PDI Perjuangan in the regency quit the party because of the scandal and joined the National Awakening Party (PKB) led by Alwi Shihab.