Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The row between members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Dahlan Iskan continued on Monday with lawmakers threatening to file legal complaints against the outspoken minister.
In recent weeks, Dahlan has tested the patience of members of the House by going public with the names of politicians who he claims demanded kickbacks from executives of SOEs.
The National Awakening Party (PAN) faction at the House announced on Monday that it would file a complaint against Dahlan and asked him to make a public statement apologizing to the lawmakers.
PAN faction secretary Teguh Juwarno said that Dahlan has slandered lawmaker M. Ichlas El Qudsi by accusing him of blackmailing executives.
"If it is true that MIEQ is in the report, we will certainly file a compliant against DI," Teguh said, referring to Ichlas and Dahlan by their initials. Ichlas is accused of demanding bribes from state-owned regional airline PT Merpati Nusantara.
Last week, Dahlan forwarded the names of eight lawmakers who he claims asked for kickbacks to the House of Representatives ethics council. Ichlas name is said to have been on Dahlan's second list, delivered to the ethics council on Friday.
The three lawmakers previously named by the minister have been identified as Sumaryoto from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Idris Laena from the Golkar Party and Idris Sugeng from the Democratic Party.
Ethics council member, Usman Jafar, claimed that Idris demanded a sweetener of 2,000 tons of sugar from the state-run PT RNI to be distributed to his constituents. Ichlas himself maintained that he was innocent and demanded Dahlan provide evidence for his allegation.
"I have never met anybody from a state-owned firm. I demand Pak Dahlan disclose details of his accusations. I will resign my position if proven guilty. I ask him to publicly apologize if he fails to provide evidence," Ichlas told reporters.
PAN executive Viva Yoga Mauladi said that his party was giving Dahlan seven days to prove his contentions.
"We give him a week to prove his accusations. If he fails to submit evidence, we will file a report of defamation with the police. His irresponsible statement has dealt a blow to the credibility of our member, our party, and the House," Viva Yoga said. The PAN faction has also filed a complaint to the ethics council.
Other than Ichlas, the four other lawmakers on the list are said to be members of House Commission XI on financial affairs, Achsanul Qosasi, Andi Timo Pangerang and Linda Megawati of the Democratic Party, and PDI-P's I Gusti Agung Rai Wirajaya.
Achsanul had previously said that he and the other lawmakers attended a meeting with PT Merpati Airlines executives three months ago. Ichlas denies ever being at the meeting.
Separately, lawmaker Idris Sugeng of the Democratic Party also denied accusation that he demanded kickback from PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI) president director Ismed Hasan Putro.
"It's cruel. I once asked Pak Ismed whether the company offered sugar to be distributed to our voters through the company's CSR [corporate social responsibility] program." Idris protested.
"I must emphasize that I finally bought four tons of sugar worth Rp 48 million [US$5,000], with each kilo costing Rp 12,000. It was a normal price," he said.