Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Two of the most outspoken House of Representative leaders, Fadli Zon and Fahri Hamzah, who supported the Nov. 4 rally calling for legal action against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, have to skip the demonstration planned for this Friday.
Fadli Zon of the Gerindra Party will attend a Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) meeting in Panama, while Fahri of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) will depart for Uzbekistan.
"I will fly this evening," Fahri said on Thursday, adding that his colleague Fadli had departed for Panama on Wednesday evening after a plenary meeting to reinstall Golkar chairman Setya Novanto as House speaker.
Unlike the Nov. 4 anti-Ahok rally that gained support from the two lawmakers, both remained tight-lipped when asked about the rally planned for this Friday. Fadli previously said he would join the next rally, as it was a "historical" mass Friday prayer, if he was in the country.
Fahri said the same thing, while assuring that there would be no attempts to impeach President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the legislature. "Setya, who has not involved in any way in the previous rally, will be here. So, there will be no revolt", he said.
The announcement of Fadli's and Fahri's overseas working visits comes only a day after Setya reclaimed the House speakership, replacing fellow party cadre Ade Komarudin, who had also expressed support for the rally. (dmr)