Marzuki Alie: Some complain about not getting enough money

Marzuki Alie thought he was summoned to be a witness in the trial of Anas Urbaningrum over his Hambalang corruption case. But the House of Representatives (DPR) speaker found himself being questioned over another issue: the construction of a new DPR building. This project triggered considerable public protest, given that the cost allocated amounted to Rp1.8 trillion. 

Not long ago, Tempo discovered funds flowing from Adhi Karya, a company which took part in the tender, to a number of politicians, in order to win the massive project. Even Marzuki was rumored to have been actively involved, particularly since he once invited Adhi Karya's senior management to his office. He admitted the meeting took place at the end of 2010. "The meeting followed reports that there were some irregularities [in the tender]. I wanted to find out the truth about the information," Marzuki told Tempo reporter Rusman Paraqbueq in Bandung, last week. 

Marzuki, who is deputy chairman of the Democrat Party's High Council, claimed to have submitted all information he held on the DPR building project to investigators.

Below is part of the interview. The complete version is available in print in this week's edition of Tempo English.

Where did you get the information that there were irregularities over the DPR building project? From a state-owned company?

No, from one of the party factions, whose member complained they were not paid enough. So I called the state-owned enterprise minister, at that time it was Mustafa Abubakar, and told him some executive from his office was giving out money, that he should be fired.

Can you name that state-owned company?

Yes, but I don't want to open something in the past and besides, I have cancelled the project.

Was it Adhi Karya?

I don't want to say. But it was two consortium companies.

How much money was given to that 'faction member'? 

Let's say it was a lot. I told the faction concerned that I had never had to handle such an issue. This project hasn't even started, yet everyone at the DPR's Household Affairs Board (BURT) have been bribed. After my phone call, the SOEs minister sent his deputy in charge of construction and his SOEs director to meet with me. I refused. That meeting could be seen as my wanting something.

Is it true that you accepted Rp250 million?

Show me the person who gave it to me, where he is so I can pay him back 1,000 times. How undignified of me to accept Rp250 million. From a project valued at Rp1.8 trillion, I could have gotten Rp100 billion, if I wanted to. I refused them. Don't interpret it as my asking for money. If someone has used my name for that purpose, maybe so.

Someone used your name to ask Adhi Karya for a 5 percent fee from the project?

Who said that? That's nonsense. He must have been the one who asked for money. Not me.

Did the company ever contact you?

No. I was the one who called them.

What for?

To find out whether there were shenanigans. I told them, "Why don't you all work together to construct this building. Stay united, don't play games." But apparently there were two among them who rejected this.

When you were at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) were you questioned about that too? 

Yes, I was asked about that. They asked about that state-owned company. So, I explained that I wanted clarification.

Was the meeting in your office?

Yes, I officially summoned them to the DPR. I told them to stop playing games. (*)