Jakarta City Council moves one stepcloser to impeaching Ahok
Dewanti A. Wardhani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Tue, April 07 2015, 6:07 AM
Responsibility report: Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (left)
walks past Council chairman Prasetio Edi Marsudi (right) and his deputy
Muhammad Taufik after reading his responsibility report for the 2014 city
budget during the council’s plenary session in Jakarta on Monday. The council
has 30 days to respond to Ahok’s speech. JP/Awo
Headlines News
After exercising its right of
inquiry early in March, the Jakarta City Council continues to move against
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, this time by exercising its
right of opinion.
During a plenary session on Monday, the councilors announced that after a month-long investigation based on the councilors’ right of inquiry, they had found that Ahok had violated several regulations: Law No. 17/2003 on state finances, Law No. 23/2014 on regional governments and Government Regulation No. 58/2005 on regional finance management.
Investigative team chairman Ongen Sangaji of the Hanura Party said the governor had violated numerous articles in the laws and as chairman he recommended that the council followed up the results of the investigation.
Ongen said the draft 2015 city budget that Ahok had submitted to the Home Ministry had not been agreed by the city administration and council. Ongen added that the administration had failed to acknowledge the council’s budgeting rights.
The council took the view that the draft budget submitted by Ahok to the ministry was “not authentic”, prompting it to submit its own draft.
Due to the disagreements, the administration was forced to use the revised 2014 budget ceiling of Rp 72.9 trillion (US$5.5 billion), instead of 2015’s ceiling of Rp 73.08 trillion.
The governor, Ongen went on, had also violated ethics and norms as a regional leader.
During the plenary session, the council played a compilation video including pictures of dozens of articles and at least 10 video interview excerpts showing Ahok yelling, hitting tables during meetings, hitting a car while meeting a resident, cursing and calling councillors “robbers” and administration officials “crooks”. The video was accompanied with captions and dramatic instrumental music. The councilors jeered while the video was played.
“Such an attitude disturbs the city administration and negatively affects its performance. Therefore, we recommend that the City Council continue and follow up our investigations,” Ongen said.
His statement received loud cheers from the councilors.
According to the 2014 Regional Government Law, in order to exercise a right of opinion, at least 20 councilors from two factions must approve and sign a petition. The councilors will then form an investigation team and question more people if needed. The investigation will lead to either the council reprimanding the governor for his mistakes, or impeachment, which can only take effect after a trial at the Supreme Court.
Separately, deputy council speaker Muhammad Taufik of the Gerindra Party faction said the council speaker and other deputy speakers would hold a meeting to decide whether the councilors would hold a petition to exercise their right of opinion.
“We will hold a meeting first to decide whether it’s necessary. To date, there have been over 50 councilors who have verbally agreed to exercise a right of opinion,” he said.
Taufik went on to say that all 15 Gerindra councilors had agreed to exercise the right. Although he declined to confirm if the councilors sought to impeach Ahok, Taufik hinted that they may be heading in that direction.
“If [Ahok] is wrong then he should be sacked, don’t you think?” he said.
Ahok, meanwhile, shrugged off the impeachment threats and questioned why the councilors did not exercise a right of opinion during the plenary session right away, instead of “wasting another week” to do so.
He said that if the councilors decided to recommend his impeachment, he was not worried, as the councilors’ evidence would need to be proven at the Supreme Court.
During a plenary session on Monday, the councilors announced that after a month-long investigation based on the councilors’ right of inquiry, they had found that Ahok had violated several regulations: Law No. 17/2003 on state finances, Law No. 23/2014 on regional governments and Government Regulation No. 58/2005 on regional finance management.
Investigative team chairman Ongen Sangaji of the Hanura Party said the governor had violated numerous articles in the laws and as chairman he recommended that the council followed up the results of the investigation.
Ongen said the draft 2015 city budget that Ahok had submitted to the Home Ministry had not been agreed by the city administration and council. Ongen added that the administration had failed to acknowledge the council’s budgeting rights.
The council took the view that the draft budget submitted by Ahok to the ministry was “not authentic”, prompting it to submit its own draft.
Due to the disagreements, the administration was forced to use the revised 2014 budget ceiling of Rp 72.9 trillion (US$5.5 billion), instead of 2015’s ceiling of Rp 73.08 trillion.
The governor, Ongen went on, had also violated ethics and norms as a regional leader.
During the plenary session, the council played a compilation video including pictures of dozens of articles and at least 10 video interview excerpts showing Ahok yelling, hitting tables during meetings, hitting a car while meeting a resident, cursing and calling councillors “robbers” and administration officials “crooks”. The video was accompanied with captions and dramatic instrumental music. The councilors jeered while the video was played.
“Such an attitude disturbs the city administration and negatively affects its performance. Therefore, we recommend that the City Council continue and follow up our investigations,” Ongen said.
His statement received loud cheers from the councilors.
According to the 2014 Regional Government Law, in order to exercise a right of opinion, at least 20 councilors from two factions must approve and sign a petition. The councilors will then form an investigation team and question more people if needed. The investigation will lead to either the council reprimanding the governor for his mistakes, or impeachment, which can only take effect after a trial at the Supreme Court.
Separately, deputy council speaker Muhammad Taufik of the Gerindra Party faction said the council speaker and other deputy speakers would hold a meeting to decide whether the councilors would hold a petition to exercise their right of opinion.
“We will hold a meeting first to decide whether it’s necessary. To date, there have been over 50 councilors who have verbally agreed to exercise a right of opinion,” he said.
Taufik went on to say that all 15 Gerindra councilors had agreed to exercise the right. Although he declined to confirm if the councilors sought to impeach Ahok, Taufik hinted that they may be heading in that direction.
“If [Ahok] is wrong then he should be sacked, don’t you think?” he said.
Ahok, meanwhile, shrugged off the impeachment threats and questioned why the councilors did not exercise a right of opinion during the plenary session right away, instead of “wasting another week” to do so.
He said that if the councilors decided to recommend his impeachment, he was not worried, as the councilors’ evidence would need to be proven at the Supreme Court.
“The faster the better. I’m not
intimidated because I know I’m not wrong. If I’m impeached, it’s fine. I’ll be
a stand-up comedian, I’m funny enough,” he said.
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Inquiry right timeline
- Feb. 26: City Council starts right of inquiry
- March 9: Right of inquiry investigation team meets with City Council Budgetary Committee to study budgeting process for the draft 2015 city budget.
- March 11: Right of inquiry investigative team questions Gagat Sidi Wahono, e-budgeting developer.
- March 12: Team calls local government budget team, consisting of regional secretary Saefullah, Financial and Asset Management Board head Heru Budi Hartono and Jakarta Development Planning Board head Tuti Kusumawati.
- March 13: Team questions assistant to the governor for tourism Sylviana Murni, Governor’s Team for Development Supervision chief Sarwo Handayani and Tourism and Culture Agency head Purba Hutapea. They were questioned about a photo depicting Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s wife Veronica Tan and his younger brother Harry Basuki participating in a meeting in West Jakarta’s Kota Tua revitalization project.
- March 25: Team calls constitutional law expert Irman Putra Sidin and Margarito Kamis for opinions on the ethics of regional leaders.
- March 26: Team calls political communications expert Emrus Sihombing and Tjipta Lesmana for opinions on ethics.
- March 27: Team calls financial state expert Sumardjiyo for issues related to allegations of maladministration.
- Feb. 26: City Council starts right of inquiry
- March 9: Right of inquiry investigation team meets with City Council Budgetary Committee to study budgeting process for the draft 2015 city budget.
- March 11: Right of inquiry investigative team questions Gagat Sidi Wahono, e-budgeting developer.
- March 12: Team calls local government budget team, consisting of regional secretary Saefullah, Financial and Asset Management Board head Heru Budi Hartono and Jakarta Development Planning Board head Tuti Kusumawati.
- March 13: Team questions assistant to the governor for tourism Sylviana Murni, Governor’s Team for Development Supervision chief Sarwo Handayani and Tourism and Culture Agency head Purba Hutapea. They were questioned about a photo depicting Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s wife Veronica Tan and his younger brother Harry Basuki participating in a meeting in West Jakarta’s Kota Tua revitalization project.
- March 25: Team calls constitutional law expert Irman Putra Sidin and Margarito Kamis for opinions on the ethics of regional leaders.
- March 26: Team calls political communications expert Emrus Sihombing and Tjipta Lesmana for opinions on ethics.
- March 27: Team calls financial state expert Sumardjiyo for issues related to allegations of maladministration.
Review of issues :
The
problem lies solely with Jokowi. If he had followed through with his campaign
promise to deal with corruption in a swift manner then there would be no issue.
Instead, he has mostly focused on ensuring that those who have committed corruption continue to get away with doing so.
Any politician that is actually “clean” and wishes to improve Indonesia will be forced to shut their eyes, as the penalty of not doing so will be political and social suicide — look at what happened at the KPK.
Of course, people like Ahok will get pissed off when they see the blatant theft from state coffers. Of course, they will show their frustration, their indignation toward the people and the system that allows it to happen and all the while the Indonesian people say nothing or at the most say very little.
Indonesians can burn to death a thief stealing a motorbike, why can’t they at least protest when millions are stolen from them?
Indonesia clearly does not deserve good governance as it cannot cope with efficiency, discipline and honesty.
Indonesia’s last few politicians who have integrity are being forced out. Sri Mulyani Indrawati was forced out in 2009 after she started asking Bakrie Group companies to pay taxes. The worst thing you can be in Indonesia is an honest person.
With the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) now crippled by President Joko Widodo “Jokowi”, Indonesia is in real trouble. Corruption will now go unchecked.
Grammar
Instead, he has mostly focused on ensuring that those who have committed corruption continue to get away with doing so.
Any politician that is actually “clean” and wishes to improve Indonesia will be forced to shut their eyes, as the penalty of not doing so will be political and social suicide — look at what happened at the KPK.
Of course, people like Ahok will get pissed off when they see the blatant theft from state coffers. Of course, they will show their frustration, their indignation toward the people and the system that allows it to happen and all the while the Indonesian people say nothing or at the most say very little.
Indonesians can burn to death a thief stealing a motorbike, why can’t they at least protest when millions are stolen from them?
Indonesia clearly does not deserve good governance as it cannot cope with efficiency, discipline and honesty.
Indonesia’s last few politicians who have integrity are being forced out. Sri Mulyani Indrawati was forced out in 2009 after she started asking Bakrie Group companies to pay taxes. The worst thing you can be in Indonesia is an honest person.
With the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) now crippled by President Joko Widodo “Jokowi”, Indonesia is in real trouble. Corruption will now go unchecked.
Grammar
1.
Simple present tense
- To express habits, general
truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth) - To give instructions or
directions:
You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left. - To express fixed arrangements,
present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00 - To express future time, after
some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.
From this articles : The Jakarta
City Council continues to move against Jakarta Governor
2.
Past tense
The simple past
is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. Duration is not important. The
time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past.
Affirmative : Subject + Verb + ed
Affirmative : Subject + Verb + ed
Negative : Subject + did
not + infinitive without to
Interrogative : Did + Subject + infinitive
without to
Example
: We crossed
the Channel yesterday.
From this
articles : the councilors announced
that after a month-long investigation based on the councilors’ right of inquiry
3.
Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is
used to make it clear that one event happened before
another in the past. It does not matter which event is
mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one happened first.
Example :
We had already started cooking.
From this articles : They had found that Ahok had violated several regulations.
4.
Modal Auxiliary
Would : Use will and would when you are asking
someone to do something.
Example :
Would you please help me.
From this articles : Would hold a meeting to decide
whether the councilors would hold a
petition to exercise their right of opinion.
Question
1.
Handle the delicate equipment with .......
A. caring
B. careful
C. care
D. carefully
2.
Answering telephone calls is the ........ of an operator.
A. responsible
B. responsibly
C. responsive
D. responsibility
3.
A free lunch will be provided for a ....... period of time.
A. limit
B. limits
C. limited
D. limiting
4.
The president has ....... arrived in Paris and will meet the Ministry of Trade
today.
A. still
B. yet
C. already
D. soon
5.
We have ..... for card members to receive complimentary life insurance.
A. arrange
B. arranged
C. remembered
D. reacted
6. He gave a long
..... in honor of the retiring vice manager.
A. speak
B. speaker
C. speaking
D. speech
7.
Are you ....... in giving some donations to help the victim of Tsunami in
Japan?
A. interest
B. interested
C. interesting
D. interestingly
8.
I'm very concerned .... the current situation in global warming.
A. to
B. about
C. at
D. upon
9.
No hotel ...... could be made on weekends because it was too full.
A. delays
B. cuisines
C. reservations
D. violations
10.
The presentation was difficult to understand ...... he spoke very quickly.
A. because
B. although
C. so that
D. than
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