TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Arif Wibowo, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction, sees that the proposal of to exercise a right of inquiry (hak angket) to question Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s reinstatement as Jakarta Governor would not be backed by coalition government party. “I believe government's coalition parties are unanimous that the right of inquiry shall only be exercised for crucial, strategic issues,” Arif said at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan yesterday.
Arief said that there is no urgency to exercise the right.
He considers that the right of inquiry would not be needed to respond to Ahok’s reinstatement as it could have detrimental effects. “We believe that the right of inquiry will not be necessary. Otherwise, the right of inquiry would be exercised arbitrarily,” Arif said.
Golkar Party faction secretary Agus Gumiwang agreed that the right of inquiry would not be necessary. Ahok’s reinstatement, he said, was made in accordance with Law No. 23/2014 on Regional Government. “The key word is a sentencing recommendation of 5 years in jail. It is stipulated in the Regional Government Law. I believe that the Home Affairs Minister’s decision to reinstate Basuki was based on a [strong] legal basis,” Agus said.
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo had said very little about the plans to exercise the right of inquiry. He said that members of parliament reserve the right to do so. “It’s a lull period. I cannot talk about it. It’s the House’s problem. I’m a government [official], I have no right to comment,” Tjahjo said. The minister said that he had received input from others. “The most important thing is: the first phase had ended. The governor’s campaign leave is over, we have reinstated [Ahok],” he said.
Tjahjo expressed that the ministry had earlier suspend officials or regional heads embroiled in legal cases. He reasoned that any suspension shall be based on a clear sentencing recommendation and whether or not the suspect was caught in a sting operation. On the decision not to suspend Ahok, Tjahjo pointed to the Governor of Gorontalo Rusli Habibie who has not been suspended because he only faces a penalty of fewer than 5 years in jail.
ARKHELAUS W.
