[Kabar-indonesia] 1 of 2: Tempo Cover Story: Aziddin Dismissed: Why Was He the Only One?

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

4 Tempo Cover Story Reports (1 of 2): 

- The Verdict from Wisma Kopo [A number of legislators 
  were reprimanded or given warnings by the DPR Honor 
  Board, but only Aziddin was dismissed.]

- Aziddin: I will sue the Religious Affairs Minister 

- An 'Unlucky' Envelope [Golkar politician Ferry 
  Mursyidan Baldan was almost dismissed from 
  parliament. But envelopes with money have long 
  been a tradition at Senayan.]

- Penalties for Absenteeism 

Tempo Magazine
No. 47/VI
July 25 - 31, 2006 

Cover Story 

The Verdict from Wisma Kopo 

A number of legislators were reprimanded or given warnings 
by the DPR Honor Board, but only Aziddin was dismissed. 

THE silence was shattered by Aziddin slamming his fist on the desk. "I'll see 
you in court," he shouted menacingly, pointing at Religious Affairs Minister 
Maftuh Basyuni. Consumed with anger, the elderly politician spoke for a full 
15 minutes during a session of the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission 
on Religion on Thursday last week. Aziddin accused the Maftuh of damaging his 
reputation. 

Unable to respond, Maftuh, target of the accusations, could only smile. 
Following the session, Maftuh told the press that he actually supported Aziddin 
reporting him to the police. "If he doesn't have the courage [to go by himself to 
the police], I could accompany him," he said jokingly. 

Aziddin, a founding member of the Democrat Party has, in recent weeks, been 
in 
the spotlight. He was expelled from parliament over suspicions of involvement 
in brokering private business deals. The former member of the Supreme 
Advisory Council (DPA) is accused of brokering a deal to provide catering facilities 
for some 200,000 prospective haj pilgrims. 

The deal allegedly involved members of the Saudi royal family. On April 10 
for example, Aziddin brought a delegation from the son-in-law of King Abdullah, 
Prince Abdul Aziz Nawaf bin Abdul, to the royal suite of the Radisson Hotel in 
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to meet with Maftuh's right-hand man, Nur Samad Kamba. 
At the time, Nur was busy taking care of accommodation for Indonesian haj 
pilgrims. 

The late night meeting lasted for 45 minutes and resulted in failure, as Nur 
disagreed with the offer made. Left high and dry following the failed 
dormitory facilities deal, Aziddin tried the catering business. On May 15 he went to 
Nur's offices in Jeddah. Together with Yunus, owner of the Pondok Patin 
catering business in Riau, Aziddin proposed that catering for the haj pilgrims be 
handled by Pondok Patin. Nur felt offended by the offer, as Haj-related matters 
did not use middlemen. In the end, his efforts to provide catering services 
also failed. To this day, his activities remain unknown to the general public. 

Then, during a DPR session on July 5, Maftuh revealed that Aziddin was 
involved in brokering business deals. Not only was Aziddin attacked by the Religious 
Affairs Minister, but the Petition of 50 went even further by reporting him 
to the DPR's Honor Board. 

Guardians of the DPR's morals took immediate action and several witnesses 
were summoned, including the owner of Pondok Patin. After the questioning was 
completed, two weeks ago, Aziddin's case was discussed at a special meeting at 
Cikopo, in the mountain resort of Puncak, West Java. 

Ten of the 13 members of the Honor Board were present. Three from the 
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction, two from the Golkar Party faction 
and one person from each of the other respective factions. 

Aside from the Aziddin case, the meeting also discussed 19 other cases, 
including the matter of the 'envelopes' related to the deliberation of the Aceh 
Administration Bill. This involved the head of the special committee, Ferry 
Mursyidan Baldan. Then there was the extortion case of the Simeulue Regent in Aceh, 
involving Anhar Nasution from the Reform Star Party faction. Also discussed 
was a complaint by a widow whose divorce papers were allegedly falsified by a 
parliamentarian. 

A Tempo source who was present at the meeting recalled that it was the Ferry, 
Anhar and Aziddin cases that were most fiercely debated. Although not done 
through a vote count, disagreement could be seen from the responses of those 
present. In the case of Ferry only three out of the 10 participants supported his 
dismissal. The other seven staunchly defended the Golkar Party member. So 
with a score of seven to three, Ferry felt safe. 

They were also divided over the Anhar case. Five supported his dismissal but 
another five strongly defended him. The score was tied. Since there was 
insufficient evidence, the meeting was not able to come to a firm decision and it 
was agreed by all present to report Anhar to the police. 

Anhar himself denies having extorted money from Darmili, the Regent of 
Simeulue. According to Anhar, the regent voluntarily gave the money to his 
organization, the Anti-Narcotics Squad. "It was a donation to buy vests, T-shirts and 
caps for the 3,000 members of the squad. So where's the evidence of extortion?" 
asked Anhar. 

The already heated atmosphere erupted on the second day, when the meeting 
discussed Aziddin's case. The meeting opened at 8:30am with whispers of Aziddin's 
dismissal already hanging heavy in the air. Cikopo's cool breeze was unable 
to prevent the talks from becoming heated and several of those present removed 
their jackets. 

All of the dormitory project documents from Prince Abdul Aziz through to 
evidence of Aziddin's request that the project go to his colleague were piled up 
on the meeting room desk. The documents were thick and they were kept busy 
reading them. 

Slamet Effendy Yusuf, head of the Honor Board, invited participants to speak 
in turn. Markus Silano from the Democrat Party questioned the definition of 
collusion, corruption and nepotism. He disagreed that Aziddin's actions could be 
categorized as corruption because there was absolutely no financial losses 
suffered by the state. Three others also defended Aziddin. 

But their pleas were disputed by several others at the meeting. Because of 
the sufficiently strong pressure from those against Aziddin, the defending camp, 
they proposed that Aziddin not be transferred out of the DPR Commission on 
Religion. 

A number of others rejected this. One of those present reminded them of other 
cases that have also involved Aziddin, asserting that "This is not the first 
case, his punishment cannot possibly just be to be transferred from the 
Commission." 

Aside from the brokering case, the Honor Board had also received reports from 
several other people about Aziddin. In March, Renny Abdul Aziz, a plantation 
entrepreneur in Medan reported Aziddin for defrauding him of Rp800 million. 

Another complaint came from Yopie Sangkot Batubara, a business colleague in 
Medan. The dispute between the two old friends began in 1994 when Aziddin was 
in the process of selling Yopie a plot of land to be followed by a house in 
Kesawan, West Medan. The price was set at Rp4.3 billion. Based on a certificate 
of trade dated February 24, 1994 and signed in the presence of notary Alina 
Hanum, Yopie gave a cash advance of around Rp1.2 billion. The remainder of the 
money was to be paid in full after the house was handed over. 

But after waiting for many years, the house was never handed over. "This was 
a trade, not a debit and credit agreement, but no house ever emerged," said 
Yopie. After repeated pressure, Aziddin finally signed a document agreeing to 
return the advance payment on May 15, 2000. According to Yopie, Aziddin has 
already returned Rp500 million. The agreement stated that the remaining money was 
to be returned six months later. 

But this also resulted in nothing. Yopie finally reported Aziddin to the 
police in Medan in January 2001. Although the police named Aziddin a suspect, he 
has been difficult to question, because as a state official police must obtain 
prior permission from the President to question him. 

At the time, Aziddin was a member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) 
during the periods 1992-1997 and 1999-2004. He was also a member of the 
Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) between 1997-1998 and a people's representative 
since 2004. 

The police examination was completed. According to Yopie's attorney, Erfin 
Jamal Lubis, "Police have already sent his dossier to the courts." So all that 
remains is to wait for a hearing to be held. Yopie also reported the matter to 
the DPR Honor Board in March. 

Aziddin denies embezzling the money. "I'm still trying to pay it off in 
installments. There was no intention of cheating anyone," he told Tempo some time 
ago. 

At the Cikopo meeting two weeks ago the Yopie case was also a consideration 
in making the decision. A number of representatives were sure that dismissal 
was the only solution, but those defending Aziddin still protested. With the 
atmosphere already tense, the meeting was adjourned for lunch. 

While enjoying a menu of vegetables in peanut sauce, chicken curry, salted 
eggs and spicy salad, they continued their lobbying. After the meeting was 
reopened, several of those present continued to insist that Aziddin be dismissed. 
The Tempo source said that after hearing all the arguments at the meeting, 
those who disagreed with the dismissal lost out, four to six. 

Aziddin has rejected the dismissal, saying the Honor Board does not have the 
right to sack him. But Gayus Lumbuun, the deputy chair of the Board disagrees, 
saying that the Board has the authority to dismiss members in accordance with 
Law No. 22/2003 on the Status and Composition of the MPR, DPR, the Regional 
Representatives Council and the Regional House of Representatives. 

The dismissal of a member of parliament is also regulated by the DPR's Code 
of Conduct which was ratified on September 27, 2004. So, "the dismissal is in 
accordance with stipulations," said Gayus. 

But Aziddin's fate had already been sealed by his own party. On Monday 
evening two weeks ago, the Chairman of the Democrat Party, Hadi Utomo, sent a letter 
to the DPR withdrawing Aziddin from Senayan. "All violations must be 
penalized. The party has decided to recall Aziddin," said Democrat Party faction head, 
Sjarifuddin Hasan. 

Although forced into a corner, Aziddin has not lost his sense of humor. 
During a meeting at the Commission on Religious Affairs last week, he even bid 
farewell to his colleagues. "Until [we] meet on another occasion, at the same 
wavelength," he said. Without waiting for permission, he then left. 

-- Wenseslaus Manggut, Eduardus Karel Dewanto, Wahyu Dyatmika, Yopiandhi 

sidebar: A Series of Cases at Senayan 

Aside from Aziddin's case, the DPR Honor Board has handed down its decisions 
on a number of other infractions, from skipping plenary meetings to renting 
out official residences. 

Skipping Meetings 

Perpetrators: Thirteen people including Ryaas Rasyid from the Democrat 
Pioneer Star faction (PBPD) and Nusron Wahid from the Golkar Party. 
Punishment: Written reprimand. 

On three consecutive occasions they skipped plenary meetings. Twelve have 
been summoned and all have apologized. Ryaas has yet to be questioned by the 
Honor Board. 

Suspected Extortion 

Perpetrators: Anhar Nasution from the Reform Star Party, suspected of 
extorting money from the Regent of Simeulue Island in Aceh. 
Punishment: Written reprimand and reported to the police. 

Brokering Deals on the Budgetary Committee 

Perpetrators: Kept confidential. 
Punishment: Written reprimand. 

Renting Out Official Residences 

Perpetrators: Mudaffar Syah from PBPD. 
Punishment: Written reprimand and the return of the rental money. 

Accepting Envelopes from the Government 

Perpetrators: Ferry Mursyidan Baldan from Golkar and his colleagues on the 
special committee that deliberated the Draft Law on Aceh Administration. They 
each accepted envelopes containing Rp5 million from the government. 
Punishment: Written reprimand. 

Brokering the Haj Business 

Perpetrators: Aziddin 
Punishment: Dismissed from the DPR 
 
-------------------------------------------

Tempo Magazine
No. 47/VI
July 25 - 31, 2006 

Cover Story 

Aziddin: I will sue the Religious Affairs Minister 

AZIDDIN, head of the Democrat Party faction in the People's Consultative 
Assembly (MPR), was seen to be extremely busy last week. He was fluttering here 
and there to save his position in the MPR as well as in the House of 
Representatives (DPR), following the DPR Honor Board's withdrawal of his membership from 
the legislature 
a few days before. 

According to the Honor Board, Aziddin had violated the ethics code as a 
people's representative, by promising someone a position in exchange for a certain 
amount of money. He also was allegedly reported to the police for fraud. But 
Aziddin never even attempted to deny the two cases. "They were just debt 
cases," he explained, "I am now trying to pay back in installments." But he is also 
accused of being a broker of haj accommodations in Mecca. It was these three 
cases that made the Honor Board expel him from the DPR. 

Aziddin himself considers the expulsion to be immoral. This statement was 
conveyed last Thursday during a hearing between the DPR Commission on Religion 
with Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni. Aziddin also accused the 
minister of having misused the Haj Perpetual Funds. "Till we meet in court," he 
threatened the minister, while pounding his table. 

The next day, he reappeared at a plenary meeting, at which DPR Speaker Agung 
Laksono had just announced his expulsion from parliament because of ethical 
violations. "I ask that the DPR Speaker withdraw the expulsion by the Honor 
Board because the case has not yet been settled in court," he pleaded. 

But his request was denied. At the end of the meeting, Aziddin was still 
shouting and waving his hands in an effort to be given a chance to speak again. 
But Agung Laksono firmly pounded the gavel three times as a sign that the 
meeting was closed. 

Tempo reporters Wahyu Dhyatmika and Aqidah Swamurti interviewed Aziddin on 
several occasions. Excerpts: 

When did you first hear about the Honor Board's decision? 

I have never received an official letter to that effect, either from the 
Honor Board or from the DPR leadership. I just found out about it from the 
newspapers.

You are being charged with ethical violation because you were a broker for 
the business of providing haj accommodations. 

There was no brokering. If I am proven to have brokered a business, go ahead 
[and expel me]. But there's no proof of this. All those charges must be proven 
in court first. The decision of the Honor Board cannot be regarded as 
official, because it is not a justice or legal organization. The Honor Board is just 
a part of the DPR. When I have been tried in court and found guilty, then 
there's a verdict. I cannot be sentenced just like this, without due process of 
law. This is chaos.

Why did you accept the decision of the Democrat Party to withdraw you [from 
parliament]? 

Withdrawing a member from parliament is a normal thing, that's party 
business. That's the prerogative of a political party. If I am found not guilty in 
court, the withdrawal will be automatically annulled. I am sure I did not violate 
any law. 

But weren't you expelled because you violated the ethics code, not the law? 

If I am charged with violating ethics, then Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh 
Basyuni has also violated them. He accused me of being a broker in a hearing 
between the DPR and the government. He accused me of selling the party's name. 
Isn't that an ethical violation?

So what will you do next? 

I will sue the Religious Affairs Minister because he is the source of all 
this problem. I am also determined to continue eradicating corruption, collusion 
and nepotism in the Religious Affairs Department.

Why are your relations with the Religious Affairs Minister heating up again? 
Didn't you once kiss and make up? 

Precisely. How did it come to this? This means there's something going on. We 
thought everything was solved, but apparently he just went on and on.

-----------------------------------------

Tempo Magazine
No. 47/VI
July 25 - 31, 2006 

Cover Story 

An 'Unlucky' Envelope 

Golkar politician Ferry Mursyidan Baldan was almost dismissed from 
parliament. 
But envelopes with money have long been a tradition at Senayan. 

IN mid-April, a staff member from the General Secretariat of the House of 
Representatives (DPR) dropped into the offices of Permadi, a politician from the 
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction on the eighth floor of the 
Nusantara Building in Senayan. Without much fuss, he placed a plain white 
envelope on the desk. "What's this?" asked Permadi without touching it. Not receiving 
a satisfactory response, Permadi retorted sharply, "take it away." 

Indeed, the plain white envelopes have a long history. An unaddressed letter 
which triggered a scandal later embroiled the chair of the special committee 
deliberating the Draft Law on Aceh Administration (RUU-PA), Ferry Mursyidan 
Baldan. How was it that an envelope containing Rp5 million in cash was later 
admitted to have come from the Home Affairs Department? If each member of the 
special committee received such an envelope, the total would have amounted to 
Rp250 million. "It was I who asked for the funds," said Ferry, after being 
questioned by the Honor Board in late June. 

Last week, the Honor Board rewarded Ferry with a letter strongly reprimanding 
him for violating the DPR's code of ethics. DPR Speaker Agung Laksono stated 
that while there was no evidence of bribery, Ferry violated the proper 
principles in the management of state finances. 

The case resurfaced in early May, when a member of the RUU-PA Special 
Committee, Beny Kabur Harman, handed over an envelope of money that he had received 
from the Honor Board. Beny's actions were followed by a letter from Agung 
asking that the Honor Board immediately investigate the case. 

"Giving money to DPR members who are deliberating laws has become a tradition 
at Senayan," said Beny when contacted by Tempo last week. The politician from 
the Democrat Party faction believes that there is fertile ground for such 
practices because DPR members rarely refuse or make a fuss about it. "This is why 
I am disappointed with the Honor Board's decision," he said. "Ferry should 
have received a heavier punishment than Aziddin," he said referring to a 
colleague in his faction who was dismissed from the DPR for involvement in brokering 
dormitory facilities for haj pilgrims. 

It was not that the Honor Board did not consider dismissing Ferry. During 
their last meeting at the DPR Building in Kopo, West Java, two weeks ago, the 
option was even discussed. "But those who agreed [that Ferry be dismissed] were 
few," said a Tempo source in the parliament. It was the pronouncement of the 
Corruption Eradication Commission and the Home Affairs Department, stating there 
was no indication of bribery in the case, that saved Ferry. 

When the dismissal option was not approved, it was recommended that Ferry be 
removed from his position as the head of the special committee. Although there 
was support for this, such a punishment was considered pointless. The week 
before the Honor Board made its decision, the deliberations over the Aceh 
Administration Bill had already been completed, meaning that Ferry's duties there 
had ended. The only remaining option was to issue a strong reprimand. 

A member of the Honor Board, Yunus Yosfiah, declined to confirm the story. 
"No comment," said the politician from the United Development Party faction last 
Friday. The Chairman of the Honor Board, Slamet Effendy Yusuf, was also 
silent. "I cannot speak about anything other than what was divulged at the plenary 
meeting," said Slamet, who is in the same political faction as Ferry. 

Are there grounds for Beny to claim that the light punishment melted out to 
Ferry smacks of politics? "There was discrimination," he said. "A violation by 
a big party was given a light punishment, while the perpetrator from a small 
party is dismissed outright." The reason for this he said is because the 
membership of the Honor Board is in proportion with the size of the factions in 
parliament. Another Tempo source said that old rivalries between the two political 
camps in Golkar also played a role in the outcome of Ferry's verdict. 

"Feel free to comment. This is a democratic country," said Slamet when asked 
about these suspicions. "What is clear is that our decision was based on the 
code of conduct and the law." 

Some time later Ferry himself disappeared from Senayan. Both his cellular 
phones were turned off and his home phone was left unanswered. After being given 
the highest flattery for completing the ratification of the Aceh 
Administration Bill, the Honor Board's may well feel like a stab in the back. -- Wahyu 
Dhyatmika 
 
-----------------------------------------

Tempo Magazine 
No. 47/VI
July 25 - 31, 2006 

Cover Story 

Penalties for Absenteeism 

Thirteen DPR members have been penalized for playing hooky. 

THE plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday last week 
was unusual in that almost every seat in the Nusantara Conference Hall II was 
occupied. At the entrance, dozens of members of the DPR Secretariat General 
checked the attendance lists to ensure that everyone affix his signature before 
entering. 

Some members who seldom showed up were in attendance, including Taufiek 
Kemas, a leading member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and 
husband of former President Megawati. Taufiek, accompanied by aides, left half 
an hour before the end of the session. 

Little wonder, Friday's plenary session was being held to hear Speaker Agung 
Laksono announce a decision on the DPR Honor Board recommending disciplinary 
action against 13 DPR members for repeatedly staying away from DPR sessions. 
Laksono didn't give the names of those penalized. 

But Tempo sources said the 13 are Ryaas Rasyid of the Democratic Pioneer Star 
faction, Ali Masykur Musa, Mufid Rahmat, Iman Buchori Cholil (National 
Awakening Party), Suryo Supeno (Democrat Party), Rambe Kamarulzaman, Mochammad 
Ichwan Syam, and Nusron Wahid (Golkar Party), Andi Rachmat (Justice & Prosperity 
Party), and Sudjud Sirajudin, Sabri Saiman, Ahmad Farhan Hamid, and Zulkifli 
Hasan (National Mandate Party). 

Among the 13, Rasyid received the strongest censure. The Honor Board 
reportedly not only served him a reminder but also recommended that the legislature 
restrict his participation in future DPR working and special committees. The 
rest only served as a reminder. 

Gayus T. Lumbuun, deputy head of the Honor Board, neither denied nor 
confirmed the report. "One member who was strictly censured is a well-known figure," 
Gayus told Tempo without mentioning names. Rasyid, a university professor and 
former Minister for Regional Autonomy, reportedly refused to appear before the 
Honor Board. 

Rasyid didn't deny the report. He told Tempo that he was on a visit to 
Sinjai, South Sulawesi, together with seven other members of the legislature, to see 
victims of floods which hit the region when he received the letter to appear 
before the committee.  

Rasyid also didn't deny that he repeatedly stayed away from DPR sessions. He 
said it was more important for him to speak at a seminar or give lectures to 
students at universities where he teaches "than falling asleep listening to 
speeches and being present just to meet the quorum." 

What's important, said Rasyid who teaches at Padjadjaran University in 
Ban­dung and University of Indonesia, was that he contributed to do the work of the 
DPR. "If I were denied participation, who else will then represent my party in 
the committees?" Rasyid, who is a member of four special committees, called 
on the Honor Board to reconsider its decision. 

Most members gave a conflict of schedules as one reason for failing to attend 
one session more than the other. Nusron Wahid, for example, said he was not 
present at one session because he was scheduled to attend another at the same 
time. Similar reasons were given by Imam Buchori Cholil, Ali Masykur Musa, 
Ahmad Farhan Hamid and Sudjud Sirajudin. 

Both Farhan and Sudjud, however, regretted the Honor Board's ignoring their 
explanation for not attending given during their questioning. "We have 
clarified the issue, yet we are still penalized," said Farhan. He said they could not 
make a decision based only on an attendance list from the DPR Secretariat 
General. 

Friday's plenary session was briefly interrupted by Irmadi Lubis of PDI-P who 
protested the leaks of names of those censured by the Honor Board. Saying 
those penalized were precisely members most active in the work of the DPR, Lubis 
asked the Honor Board to concentrate instead on members who signed the 
attendance list by proxy. 

Gayus responded that the decision of his Board was final. He said the Honor 
Board could act only if there was a complaint of absenteeism. He said the 
latest decision was based on a complaint from the Secretariat General. "We will do 
the same again if we receive a similar complaint," he said. --Eduardus Karel 
Dewanto 
and Wahyu Dyatmika 
 
-End 1 of 2-
 
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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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