TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-A number of politicians from the government supporting Indonesia Great Coalition on Monday, November 23, will gain support for a vote of no confidence on the leadership of Setya Novanto.
"Vote of no confidence this as just the beginning of a moral movement. Our ultimate goal is to urge him to resign immediately," said Teuku Taufiqulhadi, a house member from the NasDem fraction on Sunday.
Taufiqulhadi claimed to have obtained the support of many of his colleagues in parliament. He said, Setya should step down because he had been involved in ethics violation cases a number of times.
He reminded that the Honorary Supreme Council (MKD) has imposed light warning sanctions on the case of the meeting with Donald Trump, Republican candidate for President of the United States. “Another one recently was the alleged intervention against Pertamina," said Taufiqulhadi.
Setya’s name was highlighted last week after the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said reported him to the MKD, last Monday.
Sudirman submitted the transcript and recording of the conversation between Setya, Freeport Indonesia boss, Maroef Sjamsoeddin, and oil businessman Mohammad Riza Chalid.
At the same time, a letter with the House logo bearing the signature of Setya Novanto circulated requesting Pertamina directors to help on the procurement addendum in the cooperation with PT Orbit Terminal Merak, the oil storage terminal manager in Merak, Banten. To Tempo reporter Sunudyantoro, a senior Pertamina official revealed that Orbit is owned by Riza Chalid and managed by the businessman’s son.
Novanto confirmed the meeting between him, the boss of Freeport, and Riza Chalid. But he denied the allegation of asking for shares. "I can not profiteer on behalf of the President," he said on Thursday. He also denied that ever signing the letter to perpetuate Orbit Terminal Merak’s cooperation with Pertamina.
Setya claimed to have clarified the allegations against him to the leadership of the Red and White Coalition(KMP) - the coalition of government opposition parties - in a meeting last Friday at the residence of the Gerindra Chairman and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prabowo Subianto.
According to Setya, KMP support him to remain as Speaker of the House. "For the present ongoing case, we should leave it to the MKD," Setya said, as quoted by Antara on Saturday.
PKS Party President Sohibul Iman confirmed the KMP leaders’ meeting also discussed the Novanto case. According to Sohibul, KMP encourage Setya to follow the MKD process. However Sohibul did not agree with the insistence of the replacing the House leadership.
FAIZ NASRILLAH | ANDRI EL FARUQI (Padang) | SUNIDYANTORO | WAYAN AGUS PURNOMO
