Calls for the dismissal of Setya Novanto from his position in the House of Representatives and Golkar Party are growing stronger.
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Kompas/Alif Ichwan
Electronic-ID card corruption case suspect, House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar general chairman Setya Novanto leaves the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building in Jakarta on Thursday evening (23/11), after being questioned by KPK investigators for five hours in connection with the electronic-ID card corruption case. Jakarta Police traffic investigators have also questioned him as a witness in last week’s car accident. Metro TV journalist Hilman Matauch has been named a suspect in the case.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Calls for the dismissal of e-ID corruption suspect Setya Novanto from his position as the House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party general chairman are growing stronger. The call for his dismissal has emerged from both within and without Golkar.
When contacted from Jakarta on Thursday (23/11), Golkar faction chairman Dedi Mulyadi of the West Java Regional Representatives Council (DPD) said that the party’s provincial representatives had joined forces and distributed a letter proposing that an extraordinary national meeting (Munaslub) be held. Nearly 24 Golkar DPDs had signed the letter.
The Munaslub is Golkar’s highest decision-making forum and is held to select its general chairman. The Golkar Party statute (AD/ART) allows for a Munaslub to be held if two-thirds of its provincial DPDs supported it. This means that approval is needed from 24 of its 34 provincial DPDs to hold a Munaslub.
"We are just waiting for it to finish. The proposal has now been signed by nearly 24 DPDs, and it is expected to be completed in the next few days," Dedi said.
Tuesday’s plenary session of the Golkar Central Executive Board (DPP) decided that Novanto would remain in his position as the House Speaker until a ruling had been issued in the pretrial hearing on his renewed suspect status. If Novanto lost in the pretrial hearing, the party would ask him to resign as both House Speaker and Golkar general chairman. If Novanto refused to quit, a Munaslub would be held to appoint a new general chairman.
If the pretrial hearing was voided because the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had submitted the case files to the corruption court, the party would immediately replace the House Speaker and hold a Munaslub as soon as possible (Kompas, 23/11).
However, according to Dedi, the majority of DPDs want the process to be speeded up, as Golkar\'s decision to retain Novanto would continue to undermine the party’s image and electability.
Golkar chairman Ibnu Munzir of the West Sulawesi DPD expressed confidence that the majority of Golkar\'s provincial administrators would agree to accelerate the Munaslub.
Golkar Aceh deputy secretary-general Hasan Syadzily said he had heard of the movement initiated by party’s provincial administrators that called for a Munaslub. "It is the regional administrators’ right, and that must be taken into consideration by the central [board]," he said.
Calls for Novanto’s resignation have also emerged from outside Golkar. Nahdlatul Ulama general chairman Said Aqil Siroj hoped that Novanto would willingly resign from his positions.
"If he has been named a suspect, he must be replaced to maintain the honor and dignity of our House as a legislative institution," he said.
On Thursday, the Indonesian Postgraduates Association (HMPI) reported Novanto to the House Ethics Council (MKD), alleging that he had violated the code of ethics and his oath as House Speaker. "Don\'t let one person ruin [the reputation of] hundreds of other DPR members," said HMPI chairman Andi Fajar Asti.
Lawmaker Komarudin Watubun of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction said that Golkar had sacrificed the people by continuing to maintain a corruption suspect in the public position of House Speaker.
Lawmaker Lukman Edy of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction urged the MKD to respond as soon as possible to the demand from various parties to process the allegations on Novanto’s ethics violations.
Interrogated
The KPK interrogated Novanto again on Thursday to gather more information on various receipts. “When asked about the distribution of money, the answer was that he \'did not know\'. Apparently he was not [asked] about the materials," said Otto Hasibuan, one of Novanto\'s lawyers.
Novanto’s second child, Rheza Herwindo, was to be questioned on Thursday, but he did not show up. The KPK will summon Novanto\'s eldest child, Dwina Michaella, for questioning on Friday. “We remind witnesses who are summoned to meet their legal obligation to present themselves before the investigators,” said KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah.
The KPK has sent a letter to the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Directorate General of Immigration to request a travel ban for Deisti Astriani, Novanto’s wife. The directorate general’s information head, Agung Sampurno, said that Deisti\'s passport had been temporarily confiscated.
