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Lawmakers urge Setya to step down
Thirty lawmakers from several factions gather in the House of Representatives' complex in Jakarta on Tuesday
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span class="caption">Thirty lawmakers from several factions gather in the House of Representatives' complex in Jakarta on Tuesday. They urged House Speaker Setya Novanto to step down and for the House ethics council to uphold the ethics of the institution hurt by a scandal that involved mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia. (Kompas.com/Ihsanuddin)
Almost three dozen lawmakers from several factions are urging the House of Representatives' ethics council to clean up the legislature's image and also for House Speaker Setya Novanto to step down from his position following his involvement in a much-publicized scandal.
Thirty lawmakers gathered on Tuesday at the House complex to show support for the council, which plans to announce a recommendation about Setya's alleged ethical misconduct on Wednesday. The lawmakers wore black ribbons with "#SaveDPR" written on them on their right arms.
"We support the council members saving the House's reputation by taking the right decision in their effort to uphold House ethics," Komarudin Watubun, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said as reported by Kompas.com on Tuesday.
Other lawmkers involved included TB Hasanuddin, Charles Honoris, Diah Pitaloka and Nico Siahaan from the PDI-P, Teguh Juwarno, Primus Yustisio and Lucky Hakim from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Taufiqulhadi, Syarif Abdullah Alkadrie, Kurtubi and Akbar Faizal from Nasdem, Inaz Nasrullah Zubir from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), Dave Laksono from the Golkar Party, Ruhut Sitompul from the Democratic Party and Wihadi from Gerindra.
"We ask for Setya Novanto to step down. That will be for Setya's own honor and for the sake of the institution that you lead," Komarudin said, reading the declaration of the lawmakers.
"Your willingness to step down will be a noble sacrifice to raise the dignity of the House we love."
They all agreed that Setya's case, in which he allegedly conspired with oil and gas businessman Muhammad Reza Chalid to ask for shares in gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, dragged down the House's image.
Komarudin said that the case also created a poor work environment for the lawmakers.
The council, he added, had shown performance that was far from the public's expectations and had instead become a defense forum for Setya.
The council is scheduled to announce disciplinary action against Setya on Wednesday. It had held several hearings presenting Energy Minister Sudirman Said, Freeport's president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, Setya and Coordinating Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan. The council had failed to summon Reza to the hearing as the oilman is out of the country.
Setya, a senior politician with Golkar, declared that he was innocent during his hearing last week. He said that he had not committed any wrongdoing in a meeting he attended with Reza and Maroef to discuss Freeport's contract extension. (rin)(+)
