SBY gives ministers the all clear

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 08/05/2008 10:16 AM  |  Headlines

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has decided to retain two of his ministers who are implicated in a high-profile graft case, despite mounting calls for them to be dismissed.

The President said Monday he would await a court ruling on the involvement of State Minister for National Development Planning Paskah Suzetta and Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Ka'ban in the alleged misuse of Rp 100 billion of Bank Indonesia funds.

The decision came after an hour-long meeting, in which Yudhoyono sought clarification from both Paskah and Ka'ban about their links to the case. Attorney General Hendarman Supandji and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto were also present at the closed-door session.

The President summoned the two ministers after Golkar legislator Hamka Yandhu told the Corruption Court last week Paskah and Ka'ban received Rp 1 billion and Rp 300 million each from the misappropriated funds as members of the House of Representatives' Commission IX on financial affairs in 2003.

It was widely expected Yudhoyono would take firm action, as he did in May last year when he replaced then justice minister Hamid Awaluddin and state secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra amid controversy over their efforts to help a Bahama-based company, partly owned by imprisoned former president Soeharto's son Hutomo Mandala Putra, reclaim its money from BNP Paribas.

Yudhoyono said after the meeting he would respect the presumption of innocence.

"If a government official is standing trial, I will suspend them. If they are found guilty, I will dismiss them, and reinstate them if they are innocent," he said.

"Only the court can declare someone guilty, not a statement by someone. Regarding the testimony of Hamka Yandhu, I am not, or not yet, in the position to suspend the two ministers."

He said an example of this was Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi, who was once suspended but later reinstated after the court acquitted him of all charges.

Yudhoyono said he was abiding by the political contract signed by all Cabinet members, including Paskah and Ka'ban, before taking office.

"In the contract, every Cabinet member pledged not to commit corruption and is ready to resign if they are found guilty, or else I will fire them," he said.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said Friday the clarification was necessary, citing the President's main agenda of creating a corruption-free administration, even though the alleged graft occurred before Paskah and Ka'ban were appointed ministers.

Yudhoyono said he expected the two to carry on with their duties, and would not intervene in any investigation into the case.

A relieved Paskah said after the meeting he would no longer be distracted by the corruption case.

He said he was never involved in any corrupt practices during his term of office at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

"There is no corruption in Bappenas. Our financial report has always been positive," he said.

He denied allegations he received BI funds.

"But I will let the due process of law prove it," he said.

Ka'ban also denied the allegations, saying he was not involved in the House committee deliberating the BI law.

"I just explained my position to the President, that I did not participate in the committee. I denied Hamka's account during my questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and I will let the KPK decide the matter," he said.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.