Wahono endorses Bambang's firing
Wahono endorses Bambang's firing
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono finally decided yesterday to endorse the expulsion of outspoken Golkar legislator Bambang Warih Koesoemo from the House of Representatives (DPR).
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his deputies, Wahono said the House leadership has decided to bring the proposal by Golkar's executive board to have Bambang removed, to President Soeharto for final approval.
"The House leaders decided to forward the letter (of proposal by Golkar) to the President. We're also enclosing some additional considerations," Wahono said.
At the press briefing, he was accompanied by all his deputies: Ismail Hasan Metareum of the United Development Party, Soetedjo of the Armed Forces faction, Soerjadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party and J.A. Katili of Golkar.
Wahono refused to reveal the information included in the "additional considerations", saying it would be "unethical to make the information public before it reaches President Soeharto".
"We'll meet with the President as soon as possible," he said.
The announcement dashed speculations by some political commentators that Wahono, a former Golkar chief, would defy the pressure and make a name for himself by turning down Golkar's proposal.
Wahono and his deputies have now put Bambang's fate in the hands of President Soeharto. He is still legally a legislator until after the President approves his dismissal.
Bambang, known for a number of his whistle-blowing tactics and for his disclosure of a major bad debt scandal involving a business tycoon last year, greeted the news of his expulsion with relief, saying he felt better already.
"Yes, I'm relieved. This is better than having my fate dangling in midair," he told reporters who mobbed him on his way to attend a hearing with Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad.
"The DPR followed correct procedures. I believe they objectively considered my case," he said, adding: "I trust Wahono and his deputies."
Bambang said he was not surprised by the decision. "This is part of my social contract with the public."
He said he would cease fighting for his case as he had already done his utmost. "I've done everything I could. My only wish is that when it's time for President Soeharto to make his decision, he considers the public interests, not my interests, don't mind me," he said.
Wahono refused to acknowledge yesterday that the decision of DPR leaders to bring the case to Soeharto amounted to legalizing the practice of dismissing DPR members. "This is not a matter of legal or illegal, it has to do with the procedures of forwarding the proposal to the President," he said.
Unanimous
After the official announcement, deputy house speaker Soerjadi explained that the decision was reached unanimously after all of the leaders studied various information from many people.
"What can we say, that's the way it goes," he said.
Golkar's executive board has accused Bambang of acting outside of the group's official line on several occasions. Golkar leaders also said that Bambang had offended a number of cabinet ministers at various hearings in the House.
Bambang rejected the accusations and stressed that his conduct in the House was in the interest of the people.
The controversy over Bambang's case at one time spurred a lively constitutional debate about who the DPR member really represent -- the people or the political organizations that represented them. The government and Golkar insisted that a DPR member should be able to represent both at the same time.
Bambang has since established a team of lawyers and threatened to sue Golkar leaders for tarnishing his name.
Yesterday, Bambang accepted his fate but said he was still thinking over whether to proceed with the defamation lawsuit. "I will probably go ahead with the plan because this concerns my reputation," he said. (swe)