President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has expressed his anger about his name allegedly being misused by House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, adding that such misconduct dishonored state institutions.

Jokowi said on Monday in regard to the hearing into Setya at the House' ethics council that he respected the council'€™s process but he was firmly opposed to institutions of the state being misused.

Jokowi said he accepted any abuse thrown at him but it would be misconduct if it was aimed at undermining a state institution.

"I am okay being called a crazy president or stubborn president. But if it relates to integrity, [allegedly] asking for an 11 percent share, I don't want that."

"This is a matter of appropriateness, ethics, morality and the state's dignity," he said as quoted by newsportal kompas.com

Setya, a Golkar lawmaker, and oil and gas businessman Muhammad Riza Chalid are alleged to have asked for a 20 percent share of mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia. In a meeting with Freeport's president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, Setya and Riza allegedly invoked Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's names without their approval to ask for 11 and 9 percent shares for the state leaders, respectively, in return for helping Freeport extend its mining contract. An audio recording of the conversation was made public last week at a House ethics council hearing.

Setya requested a closed hearing of the ethics council on Monday, despite public demand for an open hearing, as had been the case with the two previous hearings involving Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, who reported the matter to the council, and Maroef. The ethics council chaired by Golkar lawmaker Kahar Muzakkir approved the request.

Setya told the hearing he committed no wrongdoing and refused to comment on the recording produced by Maroef saying it was illegal. He defended himself and said his conduct was in the best interests of Indonesia's investment climate.

Council member Akbar Faisal confirmed that Setya had denied all allegations made against him.

"He has the right to deny but we have all the evidence that we [the council] need to discuss," he said.

Teguh Juwarno, a lawmaker from the National Mandate Party, condemned the conduct of the hearing, which focused on legal technicalities. He said the council should have aimed only at Setya's alleged misconduct.

"Even the fact that Setya asked Freeport's boss to have an eye-to-eye meeting without concern for other House members is a violation," he said. (anh/rin)

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