From its inception we understood that the House of Representatives' inquiry committee into the Bank Century bailout would be a political process rather than an attempt to unearth legal facts.

That the inquiry would be driven by a political objective through political compromise was also understandable.

So when seven of the nine parties in the inquiry in their preliminary conclusions announced that the government's decision to bail out the ailing bank at a cost of Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) was flawed and smacked of corruption, it too was not very surprising.

If the inquiry could not shed new light on facts already known to the press many months ago, we had hoped at the very least that this inquiry in its nationally televised proceedings could become a source of political education for the nation.

Unfortunately we have instead too often been treated to a political embarrassment as decorum and civility gave way to unruly behavior and callous talk bereft of self-respect.

What should have been a congregation of wise appraisements resembled a political wrestling ring acting up for the camera.

Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) came to a conclusion that will likely place Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and former Bank Indonesia governor Boediono, now Vice President – who authorized the bailout – in the political firing line.

While there is still room for negotiation, committee chairman Idrus Marham of Golkar expressed confidence the preliminary findings would become a basis for the final conclusion.

As the Democratic Party cries foul and accuses the coalition of disloyalty, it really only has its own leader, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to blame for his failure to exert political leadership to resolve the accusations while leaving his two loyal subordinates in the lurch.

Justice must be served. Infringements and lack of prudence need to be corrected.

But punishment for the momentary objective of political expedience can only deteriorate an unnecessary crisis that has spiraled to detract national attention and resources away from the other pressing priorities of the nation.

In other words, will the recommendations to be issued do more harm than good? Are the judgments grudges or are they founded on a corrective effort to avoid future failings?

On the other side, we do not see it of any benefit to throw counter accusations while simplifying the preliminary conclusions as being stirred by businesspeople angered by the government's aggressive move to pursue multi-trillions of rupiah in unpaid taxes.

Mutual finger pointing only proves that neither side is interested in the truth, only in vilifying the other.

There are more important lessons to be learnt that all sides can agree on. Measures that could avoid such mishaps in the future.

The general consensus blames the debacle on Bank Indonesia's lack of prudence in monitoring the bank's health, especially the slack supervision, which allowed three ailing banks – Bank Pikko, Bank Danpac and Bank CIC – to crumble and merge into Bank Century in 2004.

Before a final conclusion, we urge our politicians to truly consider the consequences and ponder implications thoroughly and surmise what they can do about it, rather than what they can do to it.