House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto.(Tribunnews/Danny Permana)

House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto has rejected claims by Energy Minister Sudirman Said that he falsely cited the support of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in a meeting with officials of mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia.

The Golkar politician said that he learned of the claims through the media'€™s coverage of Sudirman's submission to the House ethics council.

"I would not use the President and Vice President's names. I am very careful [of my actions]," he said while holding back tears as quoted by newsportal tribbunnews.com on Tuesday.

Setya said that he fully respected Jokowi and Kalla.

"The President and Vice President are symbols of the state that we need to respect and protect," he added.

With regard to Freeport, he said he had suggested that the company focus on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs for people in Papua.

Sudirman reported Setya to the House's ethics council on Monday, and handed over documents including transcripts of conversations between Setya, a local businessman and Freeport chiefs. In the report, Sudirman said that Setya met with Freeport representatives three times and in one of those meetings allegedly requested that a 20 percent share [of Freeport Indonesia] be given to Jokowi and Kalla in exchange for securing Freeport's operating-permit extension.

Setya visited Kalla's office on Monday afternoon to share his version of events. (rin)(+)

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