Cak Imin grilled on graft claim at House

Jakarta, NU Online
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar 9Cak Imin) told lawmakers on Thursday that he knew nothing about the bribery scandal involving ministry officials.

Speaking to legislators on House Commission IX overseeing manpower, Muhaimin said he had been shocked after two ministry officials were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to award an infrastructure contract for resettlement areas in West Papua.

The officials – I Nyoman Suisnaya, the ministry’s transmigration development directorate secretary, and Dadong Irbarelawan, the directorate’s program evaluation and reports chief – were named suspects by the Corruption Eradication Commission for allegedly accepting Rp 1.5 billion (US$175,500) in bribes from Dharnawati, an official from PT Alam Jaya Raya.

Muhaimin, who is also chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), said the PKB was not involved in allegations, despite reports that two PKB members, Ahmad Fauzi and Ali Mudhori, were linked to the case.

The pair were only staff members of the PKB’s secretariat general and were unconnected to the ministry, Muhaimin said.

It was unlikely Fauzi and Ali would have aided Alam Raya Jaya, Muhaimin continued, as he had not discussed the ministry’s infrastructure projects or budget with them.

Fauzi ignored a KPK summons for questioning as witness in the case recently.

Two other witnesses scheduled for questioning on Wednesday were also absent: Jamaluddin Malik, Nyoman’s immediate supervisor at the ministry; and former tax official Sindu Malik Pribadi.

The KPK said it would reschedule questioning sessions with the trio.

Lawmakers, however, were skeptical of Muhaimin’s defense. “It is implausible that the minister did not know what his subordinates were doing,” Lily Wahid, sister of former president KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, said as quoted by The Jakarta Post. Lily was recently expelled from the PKB for disregarding party policies.

Ribka Tjiptaning, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), questioned the legality of the Accelerated Development of Infrastructures in Resettlement Areas Funds (PPDT) — which cost Rp 500 billion — in 19 regencies, claiming the House never approved the program.

“This is a violation of the 2008 Legislative Bodies Law regulating the House’s budgetary and control rights,” she said.

Muhaimin, who has reportedly discussed the case with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said he had not benefitted from the projects since funds had yet to be disbursed and would be shared with all related parties.

“No dirty money has flowed into my bank account. I want this case to be investigated thoroughly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (PPATK) chief Yunus Husein, said he would provide necessary information on the bank accounts held by Muhaimin and members of his family to the KPK as it investigated the bribe and graft allegations.

“We are still waiting an official order from the KPK. If it is needed, PPATK will give all financial transactions related to the bank accounts of the minister and his family,” Yunus said.

On Thursday, four teams of KPK investigators raided the ministry’s transmigration development directorate office in Kalibata, South Jakarta.

Acting KPK spokesperson Priharsa Nugraha said that investigators were seeking more evidence in the case.

Muhaimin Iskandarecently reiterated that he was innocent in relation to an alleged bribery worth Rp 1.5 billion connected to a transmigration program in Papua, after he was said to have intended to receive the money for his Idul Fitri holiday.

“Anyone defaming me by stating that I took part in the scandal should be processed in accordance with the law,” Muhaimin warned Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that he was ready to be summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to testify in relation to the case.

Muhaimin said his ministry's authority was limited in issuing instructions for the implementation of infrastructure projects, and most projects of this kind were managed by regency and province administrations.

Muhaimin said he had reported the case to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Last week, Muhaimin said he had been framed in the case, which has implicated businesswoman Dharnawati and two officials from his ministry.

“It is possible someone took a bribe using my name,” he said. (dar)