Marzuki: I’ll Quit If I’m Involved in Spending Blowout
Rizky Amelia & Ezra Sihite | January 21, 2012
Related articles
House Speaker Weighs Suit Against Indonesian News Website 3:50pm May 14, 2012
House Speaker Takes Heat for Linking Graft With Top Universities 10:08pm May 10, 2012
Marzuki Offers Pay Cut to Prevent Hike of Fuel Costs 12:37pm Mar 3, 2012
Criticism of House Speaker Marzuki Increases 2:56pm Jan 19, 2012
Indonesian Politicians in Firing Line for New Spending Plans 12:20pm Jan 11, 2012
Post a comment
Please login to post comment
Comments
492768If he knew, but kept silent about it, can that be considered as involved in the matter?
- Previous
- 1
- Next
House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie says he is ready to resign if there are indications of his involvement in one of several costly projects at the legislature that have stirred controversy.
“If I am involved and there are state losses then I will resign. That is my promise,” he told reporters at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building in Jakarta on Friday.
Marzuki, who said he wanted to set a good example as the leader of the House, visited the KPK office with Nining Indra Saleh, the secretary general of the House, to submit reports on the controversial construction projects. But he refused to elaborate.
“I don’t want to go into detail about what I am reporting, but I have told the KPK which projects we think should be acted upon,” said Marzuki, a Democrat.
The House is under intense public scrutiny after several plans for costly projects came to light. These include the Rp 20 billion ($2.2 million) renovation of a meeting room, the printing of about 18,000 calendars for Rp 1.3 billion and a planned restroom renovation for which a budget of Rp 2 billion was set aside.
Marzuki said that the State Finance Development Comptroller (BPKP) was conducting an audit, including on the renovation of the 10-by-10-meter House Budget Committee meeting room.
“The BPKP is checking on projects the public suspects are tainted by graft,” he said.
The deputy chairman of the House’s Household Affairs Committee (BURT), Pius Lustrilanang, said his office had only received initial budget plans for projects at the legislature and did not control how the funds would actually be spent.
“The specifications and other issues are not monitored by the BURT. It is up to the secretariat and the Budget Committee as users,” the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) politician said. He denied claims by the secretariat that the BURT was more deeply involved in the projects.
“According to the revised state budget, Rp 200 billion [is earmarked for House projects], including Rp 20 billion for the Budget Committee room,” Pius said.
He added that the BURT had no knowledge of the secretariat going out of its way to use up the entire budget by purchasing expensive furniture, including 85 chairs imported from Germany at Rp 24 million apiece.
The House Ethics Council said that Nining was to blame for the controversial projects, and added that she had made unsubstantiated accusations directed at the Budget Committee.
Nining had said earlier that the high costs were due to strict specifications drawn up by the Budget Committee.
On Friday, she acknowledged that the secretariat had not fully informed all stakeholders concerned about all the projects.
“Some things haven’t been sufficiently communicated. But all plans, including their technical aspects, have been in line with existing laws,” she said.
- Tomy Winata to Build Jakarta's Tallest Building
- Lady Gaga Angers Thai Fans With Fake Rolex Comment
- Lady Gaga Refuses to Tone Down Her Shows: Manager
- Indonesia Set to Cap Bank Owners’ Stakes: Sources
- President's Son Nearly Attacked by Angry Mob
- Singapore Cabby Jailed for Molesting Indonesian Maid
- Indonesia's Chief Justice Demands SBY Explain Corby Clemency
- National Exams' ‘Fantastic’ Passing Rate Suspicious: ICW
- If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Watch, Djoko Says of Gaga
- Malaysian Authorities Seize Copies of Irshad Manji’s Book
-
8:45pm | Lady Gaga Concert Promoter Has...
I think it will happen because ultimately: no concert = no kickback. -
8:24pm | Two IPB Security Guards Shot D...
It's hard to imagine that people can be so callous, at such a time and at such a place. A total absence of humanity! -
8:10pm | Lady Gaga Concert Promoter Has...
Jesus, "the requirements needed are a letter from the promoter, a permit from the venue, a recommendation from the Jakarta police, a recommendatio -
8:00pm | Lady Gaga Concert Promoter Has...
why do they need recommendation from MUI? is MUI part of the government now? this matter has nothing to do with MUI unless they run the GBK or some -
7:56pm | Indonesia Denies NGO Allegatio...
No culture of denial here, oh no. -
7:43pm | Djoko Says ‘I Don’t Care’ Abou...
i would like to hear their respond about dangdut... sigh it's useless anyway to argue against moronic people who fancy nothing but themselves... t -
7:43pm | Malaysian Authorities Seize Co...
I cannot understand how educated people can believe in any religion. All are just as ridiculous. -
7:39pm | Lady Gaga Concert Promoter Has...
From what we read everything is in place except from the Religious Affairs Ministry and MUI... And they refuse to issue the papers. _
