Wahono will not rush Bambang's dismissal

Wahono will not rush Bambang's dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the House of Representatives Wahono says he refuses to be rushed into making a decision about the fate of legislator Bambang Warih Koesoemo, whom the ruling political group, Golkar, wants removed.

"We're not talking about slaughtering a chicken here," Wahono said on Saturday when reporters asked him about his delay in responding to Golkar's request that Bambang be dismissed.

"The representative in question was elected through a lengthy process," he said, adding that dismissing a representative should be considered thoroughly.

The central executive board of Golkar presented Wahono with a letter requesting the withdrawal of Bambang, a vocal legislator, on Feb.3. The House speaker has the final say on whether or not to grant the request.

Wahono pointed out on Saturday that, under the law, the decision should be made by the leaders of the House collectively.

He said he planned to call a House leadership meeting on Tuesday to investigate the matter before making a decision. "This will be a consultative meeting, which I consider necessary to ensure that the issue is treated as objectively as possible. That means we need time to review the facts."

Golkar leaders have said Bambang was being dismissed because he had been out of line on several occasions during the course of his work in the House, and had often offended cabinet ministers.

Golkar's action sparked a heated constitutional debate on the question of who legislators actually represent: the political organization that appoints them, or the people who vote for the political organizations.

The government says that parliamentary representatives should be able to represent both the political organization to which they belong and the people. (emb)