TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Yasonna'€™s probe plan weakens as PAN gets nod

A proposal for an inquiry into Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H

Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, March 26, 2015

Share This Article

Change Size

Yasonna'€™s probe plan weakens as PAN gets nod

A

proposal for an inquiry into Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly over an alleged '€œabuse of power'€ is losing its muscle as the minister approved the new chairmanship of the National Mandate Party (PAN) under Zulkifli Hasan on Wednesday.

While having garnered support from 116 lawmakers, the inquiry that is set to probe the minister'€™s rulings in ongoing party conflicts may hit a stumbling block during a review in the House of Representatives'€™ steering committee (Bamus), in which every party faction delivers its stance on the inquiry plan.

As a member of the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, which initiated the inquiry, PAN has not said whether it supports the proposal that aims to probe two ministerial decrees that recognized the leaderships of pro-government camps in the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP).

The party went through a relatively smooth succession earlier this month in Bali with People'€™s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Zulkifli taking over the party'€™s chairmanship from Hatta Rajasa.

After his inauguration, Zulkifli pledged that the party would remain in the opposition coalition, but was open to supporting good initiatives from the government.

'€œOur stance to be part of the [Red-and-White Coalition] remains until today. We are still thoroughly studying the urgency of the inquiry. We will make a decision soon,'€ PAN executive Mufachri Harahap said.

PAN secretary general Eddy Soeparno said that discussion on the matter would be prioritized in the first meetings of the new management to be held in the next few days.

If PAN'€™s House faction decides not to support the probe into Yasonna, the Bamus review may only see three factions '€” the Gerindra Party, Golkar and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) '€” of the 10 House factions, sponsor the inquiry.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono'€™s Democratic Party, which remains independent but has been occasionally swayed into supporting the opposition, has said that it will not support the inquiry and that each party should resolve their own internal conflicts.

Despite throwing support behind the opposition earlier, the PPP faction at the House is controlled by the pro-government camp led by Hasrul Azwar, a supporter of Muhammad Romahurmuziy, who had earned recognition to lead the party from Yasonna.

The Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) recently revoked a ministerial decree on the recognition and granted the PPP'€™s chairmanship to Djan Faridz, but Yasonna, a politician from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.

Hasrul'€™s control over the PPP faction, however, may still be effective pending the court verdict.

Former Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie, who recently lost legitimacy to Agung Laksono, is challenging Yasonna'€™s decision to recognize Agung'€™s leadership with the PTUN but his case has yet to be heard.

While awaiting the court order to suspend the decree, Agung has the right to replace the party'€™s faction lineup at the House to assure that it supports the government.

If successful, Agung'€™s takeover may also crush the inquiry plan.

Golkar lawmaker John Kenedy Azis, who is among the initiators of the inquiry, said the proposal has met the quorum to be proceeded.

The signatories of the motion consist of 55 Golkar lawmakers from Aburizal'€™s camp, 37 from Gerindra, 22 from PKS; two from PAN and another two from the PPP.

PAN executive Yandri Susanto previously encouraged his fellow party members to wait for an official stance to be taken by the party'€™s central board office and reminded that all should comply with the decision.

Yandri assured that PAN would be extremely careful in examining the matter to avoid unnecessary involvement in the internal affairs of the two embattled political parties.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.