JAKARTA. The Gerindra Party faction at the House of Representatives has withdrawn its support for an inquiry team set up to probe the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Gerindra sent a letter on Monday signed by the faction’s chairman, Ahmad Muzani, officially informing the House leadership that the faction had withdraw from the inquiry team as of July 24.
Gerindra executive Desmond Junaidi Mahesa confirmed the party’s decision. He said the Gerindra Party faction’s decision was prompted by the lack of a legal basis to establish the team.
“The [inquiry] team also arranged unexpected and immediate meetings,” Desmond, who is the deputy chairman of House Commission III on legal affairs.
The lawmaker said the Gerindra faction had also opposed the inquiry team’s move to interview graft convicts at Sukamiskin Penitentiary in West Java.
Besides Desmond, Gerindra lawmakers Andi Agtas, Muhammad Syafi’i and Wenny Warouw were also on the inquiry team.
“As we have withdrawn our participation in the [inquiry] team, we will not be accountable for any decisions the team makes,” Desmond asserted.
Gerindra made the decision only days after the party refused to be involved in a House plenary meeting held to make a final decision on crucial provisions of the election bill last week. Gerindra and three other parties-the Democratic Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN)-walked out the plenary meeting. (Margareth S. Aritonang and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani)
