PDI-P to summon 3 lawmakers absent from tax inquiry vote

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) central executive board is scheduled on Friday to summon three PDI-P lawmakers who were absent in Tuesday’s legislative plenary session, which allegedly cost the party votes it needed to approve a tax inquiry proposal.

The proposal, which was rejected in the Tuesday vote, sought to form a legislative inquiry into corruption in the Indonesian taxation system, and was strongly supported by PDI-P, among other parties.

Those rejecting the proposal won very slightly over those in support, with 266 of 530 legislators attending the session voting against vs. 264 legislators who voted in support.

All PDI-P lawmakers in attendance voted to support the proposal. There were, however, 10 party members who failed to attend the session, three of whom could not provide clear reasons for their absence.

According to an unnamed PDI-P source, the three legislators -- Indah Kurnia, Herman Heri and Sugianto -- would probably receive warnings, tribunnews.com reported Friday.