Febriamy Hutapea & Heru Andriyanto – Legislators have slammed an alleged behind-the-scenes attempt to position an ally of the president at the head of special committee to investigate the government's controversial Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) bailout of PT Bank Century.

Viva Yoga Mauladi, the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction secretary in the House of Representatives, confirmed that factional chairmen of political parties aligned with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party had met on Thursday night to discuss who would be appointed chairman of the investigative committee, with each party proposing one name.

"This is within PAN political ethics," Viva said. "Coalition parties should coordinate and communicate equally, including on the matter of committee chairman."

The Golkar Party had said that it would allow a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to chair the committee, given that the PDI-P initiated the move to form the special committee in the face of initial opposition from both the Democrats and Golkar.

That position changed on Thursday, however, with House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, from Golkar, saying the party would propose that its secretary general, Idrus Marham, chair the committee.

Priyo justified the reversal by saying the investigation could be seen as an extension of the rivalry between the PDI-P and Democrats, with a Golkar chairman providing a safe middle ground. He denied that a secret deal had been reached with the Democrats to propose Idrus, who is known to be very close to the president.

The prospect of Idrus chairing the committee brought immediate howls of protest from opponents who feared he would hamper the probe into the bailout and the subsequent flow of funds, some of which, it is alleged, was diverted into Yudhoyono's re-election campaign coffers. The allegations are strongly denied by Yudhoyono and his supporters.

Romahur Muzi, the United Development Party (PPP) faction secretary, said the appointment of Idrus would create new problems and public distrust. "A candidate from Golkar is a middle way, but appointing Idrus will only create an uproar," he said.

Priyo dismissed the objections, saying Golkar was "an independent party" that could not be influenced. He said the selection of Idrus was a party consideration and had nothing to do with the Democrats,.

Pramono Anung, a House deputy speaker from the PDI-P, said his party would flatly oppose the appointment of Idrus. "We want the chairmanship to be given to a credible and clean figure who is independent," he said.

Pramono said the PDI-P had proposed Gayus Lumbuun, who was one of the main instigators of the committee. "We will fight to place Gayus as chairman."

Despite some initial opposition to the creation of the committee, a seat on the body is now one of the hottest tickets in town, given the scandal is likely to involve a bevy of senior politicians and tycoons.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) released a damning report last week that said as much as 40 percent of the Rp 6.7 trillion bailout funds was effectively illegal, and also cited other wrongdoings that it recommended be investigated. The BPK said it could not trace the funds itself.

The proposal to probe the Bank Century scandal received a record 503 votes from the House's 560 lawmakers on Tuesday. The 30-member special committee is scheduled to be established today during the last session of the House before it goes into recess.