Golkar Urged to Replace Setya Novanto due to e-KTP Scandal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) move to ban Functional Group chairman Setya Novanto from travelling abroad over has caused a concern among the party's officials. Setya was imposed with a travel ban for allegedly being involved in a graft case surrounding the procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP)

"The [Golkar] chairman is almost certain to be named as a suspect," Golkar's political, legal, and security coordinator Yorrys Raweyai in Jakarta on Monday, April 24, 2017.

The KPK earlier questioned Setya a witness for suspects Irman and Sugiharto. During the questioning, Setya denied that he had received money or been involved in the e-KTP scandal.

Yorrys revealed that the party has initiated moves at the central and regional level to save the party from the case entangling Setya. Yorrys added that the moves are aimed to anticipate the possibility of Setya being named as a suspect.

In addition, there was an urge to hold a national congress in August to replace Setya.

"This is different from the conflict between Aburizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono," Yorrys said.

Previously, Aburizal and Agung were involved in a dispute related to the legitimacy of the party's chairman. Later, both of them agreed to hold an extraordinary national congress in May last year and appointed Setya as the new Golkar chairman.

Yorrys said that the movement to save the party is necessary in order to maintain stability approaching the simultaneous regional head elections in 2018, and party verifications for the 2019 presidential election.

HUSSEIN ABRI DONGORAN