Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Marked by a walkout of dozens of lawmakers, no President and a flurry of interruptions, including a call for a hunger strike, the House heard the government's response to questions about its commitment to settle Bank Indonesia liquidity loans.
Presided over by House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar on Tuesday, the plenary session was suspended twice, after a number of legislators deemed Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono ineligible to represent the president.
The House motion to question the government includes a need for the President to answer questions formally.
"Although the standing orders allow the president to send ministers as representatives, his absence shows that he is not brave enough to address the nation's basic problems," said Abdullah Azwar Anas of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction.
Azwar said the major scandal involving Rp 702 trillion (US$77 billion) in Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) funds would continue to plague the country "for more than a decade to come". "The scandal has burdened the public with interest between Rp 45 trillion to Rp 60 trillion per year," said Azwar.
Dradjad Wibowo of the National Mandate Party faction questioned why the president attended a meeting with legislators to discuss the case of Syamsul Bahri, a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU) who is standing trial for corruption, but opted to skip the questioning session. "The BLBI issue is far more important than the case of a KPU member," Drajad said.
Yudhoyono skipped the hearing because he was receiving the credentials of the new Thailand and Kuwait ambassadors to Indonesia at the State Palace.
Jacobus Mayongpadang of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction called a hunger strike to protest Yudhoyono's absence. But instead of listening to Jacobus, some legislators were busy chewing snacks provided by the House secretariat general.
Chairman of Yudhoyono's Democratic Party faction Syarief Hassan defended the President's no-show and suggested the legislators focus on the meeting's substances.
Dozens of lawmakers left after they received the government's written report. But Suryama M. Sastra of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction returned the paper, saying: "This document has no presidential letterhead or the president's signature".
Boediono, who was about to start reading out the government's response, looked confused when some other lawmakers followed in Suryama's footstep. The chief economics minister finally read the government's response after a 90-minute break called by Muhaimin.
Boediono read out the introduction, while the detailed answers were delivered by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. The House decided to study the government's report, but remained uncertain about another hearing to hear each faction's response. (alf)