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PAN to decide on Taufik Kurniawan's replacement
“Taufik Kurniawan is not just a PAN member, but a symbol of the House’s leadership,” said PAN executive Yandri Susanto.
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The House of Representatives deputy speaker, Taufik Kurniawan (center), speaks to the press following his questioning by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in South Jakarta on Sept. 5. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
T
he National Mandate Party (PAN) will hold a meeting to decide on who will replace graft suspect Taufik Kurniawan in both the party leadership and the House of Representatives.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named PAN deputy chairman Taufik, who is also a House deputy speaker, a suspect in a graft case on Tuesday. He is alleged to have received bribes in relation to special allocation funds (DAK) for Kebumen regency, Central Java, in the revised 2016 state budget.
PAN executive Yandri Susanto said the party did not want the House to be “held hostage” by the case.
“Taufik Kurniawan is not just a PAN member, but a symbol of the House’s leadership,” Yandri said on Wednesday as quoted by tribunnews.com. “We do not want the House to be held hostage or dragged into the case where he has been named a suspect.”
When asked who would replace Taufik, Yandri said the party would need to discuss the matter first.
“The central executive board has to hold an official meeting on who will take Taufik’s seat and when, I cannot answer now,” he said.
House speaker Bambang Soesatyo said the decision on whether or not to replace Taufik was up to PAN, as the deputy speaker is not obligated to resign until he has been found guilty of a crime.
“Taufik hasn’t informed us yet whether he will continue with his duties or go on leave,” he said as quoted by kompas.com. “We will continue to communicate and take steps.
