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House to set up working committees to look into Jiwasraya, Asabri scandals
Working committees tasked with investigating issues surrounding two state-owned insurance companies could immediately be formed on Wednesday, the House deputy speaker has said.
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The Attorney General's Office is currently spearheading an investigation into Jiwasraya over alleged mismanagement within the company. Asabri, meanwhile, is facing corruption allegations after its stock portfolio plunged, causing Rp 10 trillion in losses. (Kompas/-)
T
he House of Representatives is set to establish working committees comprising members of three of the legislative body's commissions to investigate issues surrounding state-owned insurance companies Asuransi Jiwasraya and Asuransi Sosial Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (Asabri).
House deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said it was more feasible to establish working committees than a special committee since the latter would take longer to set up. The working committees would involve House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, Commission VI overseeing trade, industry and investment and Commission XI overseeing financial affairs.
“[Setting up working committees is more feasible] because the government wants to respond swiftly [to the issues],” Dasco said on Wednesday.
The Gerindra Party politician said the committees could immediately be formed within each commission starting Wednesday.
House Commission III would oversee the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in handling the cases, Commission VI would be in charge of supervising the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry in damage control and Commission XI would monitor the government’s disbursement of public funds, a task previously handled by the beleaguered state insurers, he said.
“Returning the lost funds is of utmost importance,” Dasco said, adding that the working committee initiative had nothing to do with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and was therefore not an act of intervention from the State Palace.
The AGO is currently spearheading the investigation into Jiwasraya over alleged mismanagement within the company, which has seen three of its former executives alongside two businessmen named suspects in the case.
Asabri, meanwhile, is facing corruption allegations after its stock portfolio plunged and caused Rp 10 trillion (US$728.9 million) in losses, drawing scrutiny from high-ranking officials.
The government had previously scrambled to stem the impact of the situation at Jiwasraya and Asabri by pushing for a number of anticipatory measures, including a large-scale audit on every state-owned insurance and pension firm in the country to map out a more feasible investment scheme and prevent liquidity issues. (rfa)
