After exercising its right of inquiry early in March, the Jakarta City Council continues to move against Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama, this time by exercising its right of opinion.

During a plenary session on Monday, the councilors announced that after a month-long investigation based on the councilors'€™ right of inquiry, they had found that Ahok had violated several regulations: Law No. 17/2003 on state finances, Law No. 23/2014 on regional governments and Government Regulation No. 58/2005 on regional finance management.

Investigative team chairman Ongen Sangaji of the Hanura Party said the governor had violated numerous articles in the laws and as chairman he recommended that the council followed up the results of the investigation.

Ongen said the draft 2015 city budget that Ahok had submitted to the Home Ministry had not been agreed by the city administration and council. Ongen added that the administration had failed to acknowledge the council'€™s budgeting rights.

The council took the view that the draft budget submitted by Ahok to the ministry was '€œnot authentic'€, prompting it to submit its own draft.

Due to the disagreements, the administration was forced to use the revised 2014 budget ceiling of Rp 72.9 trillion (US$5.5 billion), instead of 2015'€™s ceiling of Rp 73.08 trillion.

The governor, Ongen went on, had also violated ethics and norms as a regional leader.

During the plenary session, the council played a compilation video including pictures of dozens of articles and at least 10 video interview excerpts showing Ahok yelling, hitting tables during meetings, hitting a car while meeting a resident, cursing and calling councillors '€œrobbers'€ and administration officials '€œcrooks'€. The video was accompanied with captions and dramatic instrumental music. The councilors jeered while the video was played.

'€œSuch an attitude disturbs the city administration and negatively affects its performance. Therefore, we recommend that the City Council continue and follow up our investigations,'€ Ongen said.

His statement received loud cheers from the councilors.

According to the 2014 Regional Government Law, in order to exercise a right of opinion, at least 20 councilors from two factions must approve and sign a petition. The councilors will then form an investigation team and question more people if needed. The investigation will lead to either the council reprimanding the governor for his mistakes, or impeachment, which can only take effect after a trial at the Supreme Court.

Separately, deputy council speaker Muhammad Taufik of the Gerindra Party faction said the council speaker and other deputy speakers would hold a meeting to decide whether the councilors would hold a petition to exercise their right of opinion.

'€œWe will hold a meeting first to decide whether it'€™s necessary. To date, there have been over 50 councilors who have verbally agreed to exercise a right of opinion,'€ he said.

Taufik went on to say that all 15 Gerindra councilors had agreed to exercise the right. Although he declined to confirm if the councilors sought to impeach Ahok, Taufik hinted that they may be heading in that direction.

'€œIf [Ahok] is wrong then he should be sacked, don'€™t you think?'€ he said.

Ahok, meanwhile, shrugged off the impeachment threats and questioned why the councilors did not exercise a right of opinion during the plenary session right away, instead of '€œwasting another week'€ to do so.

He said that if the councilors decided to recommend his impeachment, he was not worried, as the councilors'€™ evidence would need to be proven at the Supreme Court.

'€œThe faster the better. I'€™m not intimidated because I know I'€™m not wrong. If I'€™m impeached, it'€™s fine. I'€™ll be a stand-up comedian, I'€™m funny enough,'€ he said.
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Inquiry right timeline

- Feb. 26: City Council starts right of inquiry

- March 9: Right of inquiry investigation team meets with City Council Budgetary Committee to study budgeting process for the draft 2015 city budget.

- March 11: Right of inquiry investigative team questions Gagat Sidi Wahono, e-budgeting developer.

- March 12: Team calls local government budget team, consisting of regional secretary Saefullah, Financial and Asset Management Board head Heru Budi Hartono and Jakarta Development Planning Board head Tuti Kusumawati.

- March 13: Team questions assistant to the governor for tourism Sylviana Murni, Governor'€™s Team for Development Supervision chief Sarwo Handayani and Tourism and Culture Agency head Purba Hutapea. They were questioned about a photo depicting Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama'€™s wife Veronica Tan and his younger brother Harry Basuki participating in a meeting in West Jakarta'€™s Kota Tua revitalization project.

- March 25: Team calls constitutional law expert Irman Putra Sidin and Margarito Kamis for opinions on the ethics of regional leaders.

- March 26: Team calls political communications expert Emrus Sihombing and Tjipta Lesmana for opinions on ethics.

- March 27: Team calls financial state expert Sumardjiyo for issues related to allegations of maladministration.

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