REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- In a last ditch attempt to salvage the reputation of the House of Representatives (DPR), some lawmakers have urged House Speaker Setya Novanto to resign over violations of ethical principles.
In a sign of support to a call for Novanto's resignation, the legislators wore black stickers on their left hands that read "save DPR" while attending a plenary meeting at the Parliament Building here on Tuesday.
Lawmaker Charles Honoris of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction affirmed that the move was aimed at demonstrating their stance to protect DPR's reputation from being maligned.
Upholding this stance, the DPR members would urge the house speaker to step down for violating ethical principles, Honoris noted.
"One of the DPR members will read out a written statement of their stance during the plenary meeting," he remarked.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said had reported Novanto to the DPR's ethics council with a transcript, accusing him of seeking a stake in PT Freeport Indonesia in return for support for its bid to secure approval for a contract extension.
The US company, which has large copper and gold mines in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua, is seeking an extension of its contract, which will expire in 2021.
According to the transcript of the conversation between Novanto and his business friend Riza Chalid and Freeport President Director Maroef Sjamsuddin, the house speaker used the names of the president and vice president to convince Freeport that the contract would be extended.
The council has already summoned Said and Sjamsuddin for questioning in an open session, broadcast live by television stations.
On Monday (Dec. 6), Novanto denied all charges leveled against him before the council in a closed-door session.
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