Susilo summoned over VP circular

JAKARTA: Nineteen legislators from eight factions have submitted a petition to the House of Representatives Speaker to summon President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over a controversial circular signed by the former vice presidential office's secretary.

The legislators urged Susilo to appear before the House to clarify the issue that forced Priyono Tjiptoherijanto to resign as the secretary.

"We will question the President to find out if the issuance of the circular was part of his policy," Idealisman Dachi of the Democratic Pioneer Star (BPD) faction said in a meeting with Speaker Agung Laksono here on Friday.

The circular, sent to ministers and the heads of government agencies, strongly criticized House hearings, during which it said lawmakers often asked questions aimed at cornering the government.

Dachi said the legislators would also ask the President if he had ordered Vice President Jusuf Kalla to assess the performance of the House.

Responding to the motion, Agung said he would bring the petition up in the House for a further discussion. Legislators from Susilo's Democratic Party and Golkar led by Kalla opposed the petition. -- JP