PDI-P seeks inquiry into Century Bank scandal

JAKARTA: House of Representative lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have demanded a House inquiry into the Bank Century bailout case.

At least 56 legislators from six factions in the House have signed a document in support of the initiative, PDI-P lawmaker Gayus Lumbuun said Saturday.

"We hope the number of signatories will increase until the next meeting of the House's Consultative Body *Bamus*," Gayus, who also chairs the House's Disciplinary Council, told Antara.

The supporters of the political move come from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, People's Conscience (Hanura) Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar Party and the PDI-P.

PDI-P legislator Maruarar Sirait said the petition would be submitted at the upcoming meeting of Bamus and to the House leaders.

He said his party had taken a firm stance on the suspicious flow of state funds amounting to Rp 6.7 trillion to bail out the private Bank Century.

Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara) was bailed out in November last year after its capital plunged to the negative zone. There are rumors surrounding the case that there may be political motivations related to the bailout. - JP