ANTI-GRAFT BODY TO CONTINUE QUESTIONING MULYANI DESPITE HER WB POST

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 5 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will continue questioning outgoing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati over the Bank Century bailout case, although she has been appointed to a World Bank post, KPK Deputy Bibit Samad Riyanto says.          After all, Sri Mulyani is one of those considered responsible for the decision to provide failed Bank Century with bailout funds amounting to Rp6.7 trillion in late 2008.         "The legal process will not look at the position of a person. I am convinced that the law will be enforced and we will continue to support this," Azis Syamsuddin, deputy chairman of House Commission III on legal affairs, said here on Wednesday.          He said the Bank Century bailout case which was now under examination process by the KPK must be continued and be finished, even if the finance minister had resigned her ministerial post and assumed a World Bank position.          On Wednesday, Sri Mulynai announced her appointment as an executive director of the World Bank and tendered her resignation to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The president accepted her resignation.          "The news about my appointment to a World Bank position is correct but I am still waiting for President Yudhoyono's consent," Sri Mulyani said after speaking at a seminar on taxation at Pacific Place Jakarta. She made the remarks before Yudhoyono announced his consent.          Earlier, World Bank President Robert Zoellick had announced the appointment of Sri Mulyai as a World Bank managing director who would oversee three regions in Latin America and Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and North Africa.          She will replace Juan Jose Daboub who will complete his term of office on June 30, 2010. Mulyani is expected to join the World Bank beginning on June 1, 2010.          The latest developments came amid the efforts of the KPK to question Mulyani as a witness in the Century case. Therefore, her appointment to the World Bank position was considered something that should not hamper the examinations.          "Sri Mulyani cannot abdicate her responsibility from the legal process," Petition-28 spokesman Haris Rusly Motti said. Therefore, the KPK must issue a decision to ban Mulyani from leaving the country, he said.          However, KPK Deputy Chairman Bibit Samad Riyanto said Mulyani has not yet been named a suspect until now so that questioning can be conducted anywhere. The KPK will continue its examinations on the finance ministry even if she has been appointed a World Bank director.          "Sri Mulyani is not yet a suspect in the Bank Century alleged corruption case so that KPK can just ask for explanations anywhere," Bibit Riyanto told the House Monitoring Team on the Bank Century Case.          He said even if Mulyani would have domiciled overseas because of her World Bank post, the KPK would still be able to ask for her explanations.          In the meantime, Petition-28 spokesman Haris Rusly Motti said that the naming of Mulynai as a top official of the World Bank just confirmed the allegation so far that she had been a stooge of the West.          "Sri Mulyani is finally saved by being appointed as a top executive of the World Bank," Motti said. The problem at home is that Mulyani at present is under the investigation of the anti-graft commission over the alleged Bank Century corruption case.          The post that will be taken up by Sri Mulyani is only one level below that of the World Bank President, now being held by Robert Zoellick.          Bambang Soesatyo, member of the House Monitoring Team on the Recommendations of the House Century Inquiry Committee, saw that Mulyani's resignation from her ministerial post was the best solution to cooling down the political atmosphere which had been heating up in the country of late.          "This is the best political solution. Her appointment to the World Bank and her resignation are a best solution," Bambang Soesatyo said after a meeting with the KPK.          He said that the political atmosphere had continued to increase of late due to the Bank Century case. But Bambang said legal process should not be ignored.          Political observer Prof. Nurtain of the Padang State University (UNP) said the appointment of Mulyani as an executive director of the World Bank would bring positive impact to Indonesia.          "The appointment of the Indonesian economist will bring positive impact, particularly the image of the Indonesian people in the eyes of the world and this would of course have positive impact on the country's economy," the UNP lecturer said.          He said that apart from all conflicts and allegations associated with the finance minister, the naming of Sri Mulyani as a World Bank leading executive was high achievement.          "This means that the world recognizes Indonesia's capabilities and would improve the nation's image," he said.          The same opinion was also expressed political observer Warjo of the North Sumatra University (USU). "This proves to the eyes of the world that Indonesia has excellent human resources which are not inferior to those of other countries," he said.          He said that apart from the investigation by the KPK over the Bank Century case, Mulyani deserves appreciation and support from all sides.          "Mulyani's achievements should serve as an example for younger generations to build their capabilities that can also be appreciated by the world," Warjo said.      (T.AO14/A/HAJM/B003) 05-05-2010 21:55:1