Sex scandal hits PDI-P legislators

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.