When two legislators have affair...

When two legislators have affair...

JAKARTA (JP): East Java governor Basofi Sudirman will withdraw
a legislator from the ruling Golkar party serving at a local
legislative council for having a love affair with a House of
Representatives member, a press report said yesterday.

Antara said that Mrs. SW of the Probolinggo regency
legislative council was dating a Jakarta-based House member long
before she held her position after the 1992 election.

"I have received an official notice about her case and her
termination is in process. Her successor is also a woman," Basofi
told reporters when hosting a fast breaking dinner with senior
provincial officials at the weekend.

Mrs. SW, wife of a Probolinggo civil servant, and the House
member used to be fellow activists of a youth organization.

Dismissal of a politician because of a love affair is rare in
Indonesian politics.

Their affair has been an open secret in their political
circles and many fellow politicians had advised Golkar against
making her a council member, but the warning went unheeded.

R. Soenarto of the provincial administration's socio-political
affairs department, said that Mrs. SW could lose her Golkar
membership for up to five years because of her "moral crime".

"Golkar has the right to withdraw her from the legislative
council," he said.

He added that she would be replaced by Sri Wini, who will step
into Mrs. SW's shoes next week. As for her lover, he said it is
the responsibility of Golkar's central executive board. (pan)