Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – In an apparent face-saving measure aimed at boosting its chances in the 2009 elections, the Democrat Party (PD) has endorsed a recommendation by the House of Representatives' disciplinary council to dismiss one of its lawmakers for unethical conduct.
The party co-founded by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recalled Aziddin for abusing his position as a legislator to help a private company win a government contract to build a dormitory for Indonesian haj pilgrims in Mecca.
Jonny Allen Marbun, a PD legislator and executive board member, said the decision was based on a recommendation by the party's disciplinary committee, which carried out a thorough investigation of Aziddin's conduct over the past two years.
"The PD executive board delivered the recall letter to Aziddin this morning after a marathon meeting Monday night," he told a news conference here Tuesday. Jonny added that the dismissed lawmaker would be given another job in the PD to allow him to show his loyalty and political commitment to the party.
He admitted that Aziddin was found guilty of abusing his power in several cases over the past two years, but insisted the dismissal had nothing to do with the ruling issued by the House's disciplinary council.
"The executive board was not responding to the House disciplinary council's decision against Aziddin but is concerned with our ongoing process of internal improvement in the party," he said, citing this as the party's urgent priority in preparing for the 2009 elections.
Aziddin was one of 19 lawmakers recommended for sanctioning by the House disciplinary council for infringements of the parliamentary code of ethics.
The council said the dismissed legislator, a member of House Commission VIII on sports and religious affairs, acted as a middleman on behalf of PT Pondok Patin, which submitted a proposal last year to construct a dormitory to house some 37,000 pilgrims in Mecca.
"(Aziddin) has numerous cases but there are three major ones. He helped PT Pondok Patin win a government project to build the haj dormitory in Saudi Arabia, helped (another) private firm to purchase disputed land in Medan and assisted in the promotion of the current president director of state-owned palm oil company PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV in North Sumatra," said a member of the disciplinary council who requested anonymity.
The lawmaker also said the council has asked police to investigate Aziddin's alleged crime, and that President Yudhoyono had reportedly voiced support for Aziddin's questioning in the cases.
Gayus Lumbun, deputy chairman of the disciplinary council, said his office would notify the President and the General Elections Commission (KPU) of the dismissal.
"The President will issue a decree on the firing of the legislator while the KPU will determine who will replace the dismissed legislator from the same party," said Gayus, who declined to identify the dismissed legislator until a House plenary session scheduled for Friday.
Max Sopacua, who accompanied Jonny at the news briefing, said Aziddin was recalled without any consultation with President Yudhoyono, who also chairs the PD board of patrons.
"The President belongs to all the people and we hope this case will not tarnish the image of the party that nominated him for the 2004 presidential election," Max said, adding the party had no choice but to recall Aziddin to boost its chances in the next election.