Taufik's state role queried

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The appointment of Taufik Kiemas as a special envoy during a ministerial visit to China is a classic conflict of interest in relation to his role as the President's husband, a legislator and businessman, a government critic said on Friday.

Coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) Teten Masduki said that President Megawati Soekarnoputri should explain to the public why she appointed her husband for a state job.

"Why didn't she appoint somebody else?" said Teten.

The first family came under public scrutiny after Taufik led a delegation of economic ministers to China last week. High on the agenda was talks on Natural Liquefied Gas (LNG) deals and the reopening of the Bank of China in Indonesia.

Taufik, an established businessman who has made his millions through the operation of gasoline stations, is a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which is led by Megawati.

"I think the visit only benefits Taufik and his associates," Teten told The Jakarta Post. He added that the public should be skeptical and must monitor how Taufik's business does after the visit.

Critics have demanded that Taufik quit his legislative post, otherwise being the President's husband he has a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda came out in defense of Taufik's appointment on the grounds that it is the President's prerogative to appoint anybody as the country's special envoy.

"There are no regulations on the matter. The President has the prerogative to appoint anybody for the special mission with limited substance and target," Hassan said after meeting MeGawati.

Taufik's visit to China was a follow up to the earlier State visit of Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji to Jakarta.

"It (Taufik's visit) was an official visit and on behalf of the Indonesian government," Hassan said after a long pause before answering the question.

Since Megawati's rise to presidency, many people have suspected that Taufik would take advantage of her position for his business interests.

Aware of public scrutiny, Megawati announced in the early days in office that she had asked Taufik and the rest of her family to stay clear of business and of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

However, just a few weeks later, Taufik, who owns dozens of gas stations in the capital, asked for more credit from a bank to expand his family business.

Taufik has often contended that he has no intention of quitting his legislative post because, he claims, he has already given up his business.

Roy B. B. Janis, chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction in the House, said he had also questioned Taufik's visit.

He was told that Taufik's role in the Chinese visit was to keep good relations between the two countries.

"The family of president Sukarno (Megawati's father) was highly respected in China. Taufik only acted as a liaison officer," Roy told The Jakarta Post.

Roy brushed aside fears that Taufik would exploit his wife's position for personal gain.