Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The House of Representatives leadership has rebuffed calls by a minor opposition party to halt the construction a new office building for legislators, dismissing the move as an attempt to gain popularity.

The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) filed an official objection to the plan on Tuesday, following the example of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), also in the opposition camp.

In its objection, Gerindra said the building would be redundant if the government moved ahead with a plan to relocate the capital from Jakarta.

The party also said the House (DPR) did not need a new building, while the projected cost of more than Rp 1 trillion ($111 million) would be better spent on programs to alleviate poverty.

However, Priyo Budi Santoso, a deputy House speaker from the Golkar Party, on Wednesday criticized Gerindra's statement as a simplistic ploy to garner public support.

He said that by filing a formal objection, Gerindra had shown a disregard for the House's commitment to the plan so far.

Priyo also accused Gerindra of "trying to revoke the fact that all parties had agreed to the plan as long as it was supervised by state auditors."

"So if Gerindra wants to look for a bit of public sympathy, I suggest they ask the other parties to join in and not hog the limelight themselves," Priyo said.

He added the project, for which construction is expected to begin in the middle of the year, could not be postponed because nothing in the planning stage had violated any laws.

Anis Matta, the deputy speaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), agreed, saying construction would proceed as planned. "All parties approved the plan, so it will continue," he said.

However, Gayus Lumbuun from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the project should be halted and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) brought in to probe graft allegations linked to it.

A budget watchdog has previously alleged that legislators had been promised kickbacks from a coal-mining magnate vying for a contract in the project.

Gayus said Taufik Kurniawan, the deputy speaker from the National Mandate Party (PAN), had also raised concerns about legislators being bribed. "The plan must be aborted and the KPK must launch an investigation," Gayus said.