Jakarta,
Nov 5 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) was called on
Monday to follow up on a report by State Enterprise Minister Dahlan
Iskan about lawmakers who had allegedly extorted money from state-owned
firms.
"The
ball is now in the hands of the Ethics Council of the House of
Representatives. If the House is serious about improving its image, its
ethics council should follow up on the report of the state-owned firms,"
Budi Purnomo Karjodihardjo, coordinator of BUMN Care, a state-owned
firm watchdog, said here on Monday.
Iskan
fulfilled his promise of revealing the names of legislators who have
extorted money from state-owned companies to the House of
Representatives' (DPR) Ethics Council on Monday. He, however, did not
reveal the names of all those allegedly involved in the case saying that
he had only reported two names and three cases that have been supported
with accountable evidence.
Iskan
earlier said there were around 10 legislators who had tried to extort
money from state-owned companies. Meanwhile, text messages had been
circulated with initials of 18 names.
According
to Karjodihardjo, the House should reveal the names of all the
lawmakers accused of attempting to extort money from state firms or take
strict action to showcase its seriousness in handling the issue.
He
said that any delay by the House in taking action would create a
negative perception of the DPR, which could serve as a bad precedent for
law enforcement as people would be wary of reporting misdeeds to the
House in the future.
He
added that his organization fully supported the statement of the
chairman of the DPR Council of Ethics, M Prakoso, who said he would take
firm action against lawmakers who were proven to have extorted or asked
for money from state firms.
"We
are of the view that firm sanctions could create a deterrent effect for
legislators who committed the crime, also for individuals in the
state-owned firms themselves," he said.
Minister Iskan said that though he had only reported two names to the
House Ethics Council, there were plenty of corrupt officials in
state-owned enterprises.
"I come to the House Ethics Council to report instances of attempted
extortion by certain lawmakers but I admit we have also to introspect
that state companies must also be cleaned of corrupt officials," Iskan
said after meeting with the House's Ethics Council (BK DPR).
He mentioned that reporting the case to the BK DPR meant that he was
interfering in other's affairs but he had been summoned by the council.
The BK DPR held a closed-door meeting for about 1.5 hours, after which
Iskan addressed a press conference with almost 100 journalists.
The
minister said that putting state companies in order was a high priority
as they had become a target for those who were asking for tribute
money.
"The
extortion that took place at state-owned firms is required to stop
because it only disturbs the operations of the companies as the
management is constrained to work professionally," Iskan said.
"Certain
individuals even called officials in management as many as 20 times to
ask for the money. This person also asked the management to transfer the
money although they were abroad," asserted Iskan.
According
to BK DPR chairman, M Prakoso, the alleged extortion by the legislators
was linked to the disbursement of the government's capital
participation at state-owned enterprises.
"Based
on the report of Pak (Mr) Dahlan, the tribute money asked for by the
two lawmakers was related to the approval of the government's capital
participation in state companies," noted Prakosa after the meeting.
But
he added that he could not disclose the names of the alleged lawmakers
and three state-owned firms in question, just yet because the ethics
council was yet to carry out a closed-door meeting.
He
said that he would follow up on the minister's report by summoning the
two lawmakers and the managements of the three state companies.
"We will summon them after the House's recess," Prakoso said.
Considered an outspoken minister, Iskan received mixed reactions with
regard to his attitude on the case. He triggered an uproar by claiming
that lawmakers were seeking to extort money from state companies.
He
was even warned to be more cautious while making statements as he has
been quoted as accusing ten unnamed lawmakers of seeking to extort money
from state companies while discussing budgets for the companies.
His
statements had lawmakers accusing him of seeking to divert public
attention ahead of the presidential elections in 2014.
Iskan is rumored to be a potential presidential candidate with his reputation as a clean man.
"I never said ten lawmakers but only said around ten lawmakers," he
told reporters after appearing before the Parliament Honorary Board.
Deputy
House Speaker Priyo Budisantoso, from the Golkar Party, said the
minister should restrain from issuing statements not backed by facts or
he would create another destabilizing problem.
"As a state official, I asked Iskan to be careful while making his statement," Budisantoso said.
Political
coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch, Abdullah Dahlan, meanwhile,
stated that Iskan has to keep reporting the alleged incidences of
corruption involving parliament members to the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK).
"Although Iskan has been called by the House of Representatives¿
Council of Ethics to discuss the issue, he has to keep reporting about
it to ths KPK," said Dahlan.
"The ethics council should enforce the code of ethics, which might have
been violated by the DPR member, if the corruption allegation turns out
to be true," he added.
Deputy
Secretary General of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), Ramadhan Pohan
supported the step taken by the minister. He earlier expressed support
for the minister to disclose the alleged extortion attempts involving
state companies.
"There
are 560 lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Some are good and
some others are bad. For the sake of the truth, I support Minister
Iskan," he said.***1***
(T.A014/INE/H-YH)
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH) 05-11-2012 19:58: |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar