An NGO has filed a report with the House of Representatives Council of Ethics against two entertainers-cum-politicians for moonlighting.
The Government against Corruption and Discrimination (GADC) said in its report that Hendro Purnomo, better known as Eko Patrio, from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Tantowi Yahya from the Golkar Party were still pursuing their old jobs despite their state duties as lawmakers.
“Eko still works as a presenter for a TV show called Promotor and Tantowi still actively involved as a member of the panel of jury in the Indonesia Mencari Bakat (Indonesia’s Got Talent) show,” GADC Investigation Director Ricko Marpaung said Wednesday as quoted by detik.com news portal.
The NGO said both Eko and Tantowi had violated the House’s code of ethics and the Criminal Code, particularly Articles 421 and 423 on abuse of power.
The House bans lawmakers from taking side jobs.
“They have taken their oath to only work for the good of the nation. Having side jobs is forbidden. If a legislator is a lawyer, then they must stop practicing, so is the case if they are a doctor. In this case, [Eko and Tantowi] are still active in TV programs for commercial purposes,” Ricko said.
Ricko added that the NGO had reported the violations allegedly committed by Eko and Tantowi to the House’s honors board from the beginning of August, but no action had been taken to respond to the report.
“This week, we are also going to bring the case to the police,” Ricko said.
He added the NGO would provide solid evidence of the alleged violations implicating the two legislators.
“The evidence will be in the form of video tapes showing that they still actively work as entertainers,” he said.
Responding to the allegation, Tantowi accused the GADC of hiding political motives behind its action.
“This is very political. Just take a look at the NGO’s logo,” Tantowi said Wednesday referring to the logo, which looks very similar to that of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.
“This issue must have something to do with my critical stance on the way the government has reacted to the recent dispute with Malaysia,” Tantowi added.
Tantowi also claimed he had never taken any job as a presenter since he was inaugurated as a House legislator in October last year.
“I have rejected more than 100 job offers. On average, one job could earn me Rp 50 million [US$5,500]. So, please count how much money I could have made,” he said.
Tantowi confirmed that he had appeared on TV as a judge on a talent show, but said he had quit the job.
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|