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A conservative legislator mired in a pornography scandal showed up for work at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, despite having announced his resignation last week.

Arifinto, from the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he was stepping down after being photographed looking at pornography on his tablet computer during a plenary session of the House. But on Tuesday, he said the resignation process would take time. “It’s not like a magic formula,” he said.

He added that he had not yet given formal notice to his party because the House was in recess, and said he wanted to complete all his duties at the House Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) before resigning.

Arifinto stressed that even though he had publicly announced his resignation, the PKS would have the final word on withdrawing him from the House.

Protocol dictated that he submit his resignation letter to the party, which would then forward it to the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the president, he said.

However, House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the correct procedure was for the letter to be handed to the House speaker and his deputies, who would then submit it to the president for approval.

He added that since Arifinto announced his resignation on April 11, three days after the start of the recess period, House leaders had not received a resignation letter from either the lawmaker or the PKS.

“He’s publicly announced his resignation and he should fulfill that promise immediately,” Pramono said. “I don’t know the real reason for his not having sent us the letter.”

Ali Maschan Moesa, a member of the House Ethics Council from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said that if the PKS and Arifinto did not follow through on his promise to resign, the council would launch a probe into the case. The council had previously said it would not bring Arifinto before a tribunal because he had voluntarily stepped down.

Arifinto insisted he was staying put pending “a decree from the president.” Until then, he said, he would see out his duties.

“When there are no more responsibilities, all the matters have been cleared and the party has issued its verdict, I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’ll follow whatever decision the party makes.”

Mustafa Kamal, who leads the PKS faction at the House, said he was not sure whether Arifinto had handed in his resignation, but stressed that he should not renege on his promise to step down.

“I haven’t checked whether he’s handed in the resignation letter because right now I’m out of town,” Mustafa said. “It’s big of him to resign, we appreciate it.”