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)