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Golkar’s young politicians demand Setya Novanto’s resignation
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Witnessed by former president BJ Habibie (left) and the party's secretary-general Idrus Marham (right), Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (second right) shakes hands with then House of Representatives speaker Ade Komarudin during a party event on July 27, 2016. (Antara Photo/M Agung Rajasa)
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oung Golkar politicians have called on party chairman Setya Novanto to resign from his post as the House of Representatives speaker because of his new status as a suspect in the e-ID corruption case.
Golkar’s Youth Wing (AMPG) chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia said Setya’s status as a corruption suspect would affect the working performance of the House and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's administration and burden the image of the legislative body as well.
“We are calling on Setya to give up his speaker post. His resignation will show his support for the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla administration,” Doli said on Wednesday.
He was also worried Setya would “misuse” the House, as the country’s top legislative body, for the sake of his own interests, including to help himself “escape” from the legal process.
“It’s very possible that [Setya] can misuse the legislative body to protect his individual interest,” Doli said.
(Read also: Another Golkar lawmaker named e-ID graft suspect)
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Setya a suspect in the e-ID graft case on Tuesday, accusing him of playing a key role in the mega-scandal that allegedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$172.81 million) in state losses.
Several factions at the House have urged Setya to resign so that he could focus on dealing with the case without interrupting the House’s agenda. He has refused to resign so far as he has maintained he is innocent.
Another AMPG member, Samsul Hidayat, said Setya’s reluctance to resign would burden the image of both the party and the government, particularly in relation to the nation’s agenda to eradicate corruption. (foy/ebf)
