Vice President Jusuf Kalla
Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said he is ready to testify at a hearing of the House of Representatives' ethics council, which will probe House Speaker Setya Novanto's alleged misuse of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Kalla's names in meetings with representatives of mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia, which is seeking a contract extension.
'I am confident that I am not involved in the case,' Kalla said after attending the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2016 event at Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta on Tuesday, as reported by tribunnews.com.
The Vice President said that he had not yet received an invitation from the council in relation to testifying at the hearing, but had heard about it. 'I heard that there would be invitation. I am ready [to attend],' he added.
In the latest version of transcripts of the meeting allegedly attended by Setya, businessman Muhammad Riza Chalid and PT Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, the names of Kalla and Coordinating Political and Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan were mentioned six and 66 times, respectively.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said earlier reported Setya to the House's ethics council for allegedly claiming to have won the approval of Jokowi and Kalla to secure shares and projects from Freeport in exchange for helping the company extend its contract and continue operating its gold mine, one of the world's largest.
The council kicked off the hearing on Monday. However, council members have yet to cover the substance of the matter as they are still questioning the legal standing of Sudirman in the case.
By questioning Sudirman's legal standing, Setya's camp on the council has continued to attempt to halt the council's inquiry. Council member and United Development Party politician Zainut Tauhid even called on the council to annul its initial decision.
The council is continuing its hearing on Tuesday, with hopes that it will address substantial issues such as hearing testimony from relevant parties. (bbn)(+)
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