Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie visited a number of Islamic boarding schools in East Java on Thursday and played down the provincial legislative council's plan to set up a committee of inquiry into his company's alleged role in the protracted mudflow disaster in Sidoarjo.

"So please form an inquiry committee, no problem. It's the Supreme Court which holds the legitimate right to decide," Aburizal told Antara news agency said on the sidelines of his trip to Lirboyo Islamic boarding school in Kediri.

Aburizal said his company, PT Lapindo Brantas, had gone bankrupt and run out of money to pay compensation for people affected by the disaster, which began in 2006. He claimed his holding company had disbursed Rp 8 trillion to relocate thousands of people from their sinking villages.

Aburizal also visited two other Islamic boarding schools in Kediri municipality and Kediri regency, before flying for Jombang by a helicopter to visit Darul Ulum boarding school and the grave of former president Abdurrahman Wahid at Tebuireng Islamic boarding school.

He denied allegations that his Ramadan tour in East Java was driven by political motives. "There are many people studying in Islamic boarding schools across Java. We want to hear and help articulate their aspirations," he said.