Jakarta – President BJ Habibie has recalled 41 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members, part of whom were former high-ranking government officials in former president Soeharto's administration. MPR Deputy Speaker Abdul Gafur told newsmen here Tuesday, there calls were provided for in Presidential Decree No 172/M, 1998 dated June 29 and affected 41 members of the Golkar (Functional Group) faction (FKP).
Among the recalled MPR members, who concurrently held executive positions in former president Suharto's government, were R Hartono (former Information Minister), Fuad Bawazier (former Finance Minister), Muhammad Hasan (former Trade and Industry Minister), Sudrajad Djiwandono (former Bank Indonesia Governor), Yogie S Memet (former Home Affairs Minister) and Singgih (former Attorney General). Other individuals on the list included Achmad Tirtosudiro, noted ulema KH Zainuddin MZ, Anthony Salim (son of business tycoon Sudono Salim), Djiteng Marsudi, Faisal Abda'oe, Rinto Harahap and Amalia Sianti Wiranto, a daughter of the ABRI (Indonesian Armed Forces) commander.
The president also appointed prominent experts and critical figures to replace most of the recalled MPR members. The replacements included noted economists Christianto Wibisonoand Didiek J Rachbini, Fachry Aly, Hariman Siregar, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Salim Said, Marzuki Darusman, Parni Hadi, Ismail Sunny and Sayidiman Surjohadiprodjo. Gafur said the 41 MPR seats involved in the replacements were part of the 100 which under existing laws are the president's authority to empty or fill. "The replacements are in accordance with laws No 16/1969 and No5/1995," Gafur said noting that the new members were figures free from corruption, collusion and nepotism.
[According to a report by Dow Jones, on July 3 the Attorney General's office brought former trade and industry minister and Suharto crony Mohamad "Bob" Hasan in for questioning over the handling of funds from the Indonesian Wood Panel Association. Officials said that the investigation was launched after the department received reports of misuse of funds through a public information box - James Balowski.]