A group of academics started on Thursday an online petition calling for his dismissal from the Cabinet, an NGO coalition reported him to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly obstructing a graft investigation and House of Representatives lawmakers said they would summon him to a hearing – all within 12 hours.

The minister stands accused of covering up the whereabouts of graft suspect and PDI-P member Harun Masiku, who is wanted by the KPK for his alleged role in bribery centering on a dispute between the party and the General Elections Commission (KPU) over a legislative seat left vacant by a deceased party member.

Immigration officials under the Law and Human Rights Ministry initially said that Harun, who is accused of bribing KPU member Wahyu Setiawan to secure the House seat, was in Singapore when KPK officials named him a suspect on Jan. 9. Yasonna himself insisted that Harun was overseas.

However, after evidence surfaced that Harun had returned to Indonesia beforehand, Law and Human Rights Ministry Immigration Director General Ronny F. Sompie confirmed on Wednesday that Harun had been in the country since Jan. 7, claiming that a delay in data processing was the reason for the inconsistency.

Yasonna has so far refused to comment on the revelation, directing reporters' questions to the Immigration Directorate General.

The alleged cover-up prompted a group of academics and activists led by University of Indonesia lecturer Ade Armando to start a petition on Change.org calling for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to fire Yasonna from his position as minister.

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