Setya Novanto Resigns As House Speaker

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Setya Novanto, the Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), stepped down from his post, as per his resignation letter here on Wednesday night (Dec 16, 2105).

Novanto's letter of resignation was received by the House of Representatives' Ethics Council (MKD) after 10 of the 17 members of the Ethics Council urged him to resign.

After all the members of the Ethics Council had expressed their views about Novanto's alleged violation of ethics in a closed door meeting, the deputy chairman of the Ethics Council, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, read out Novanto's letter of resignation.

"In connection with the handling of allegations of ethical violations in the House of Representatives, in an effort to maintain the dignity and ensure public order, I hereby resign from the chairmanship of the House of Representatives," Novanto wrote in his letter.

Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Sudirman Said had reported Setya Novanto to the MKD for having allegedly exploited the names of the President and the Vice President in an alleged deal making bid with PT Freeport Indonesia which was looking for an extension of its contract.

The minister had submitted recordings of the conversation that Setya Novanto had had with the president director of PT Freeport, Maroef Sjamsoeddin, and businessman M Riza Chalid, to the MKD as evidence.

Sudirman Said and Maroef Sjamsoeddin were questioned by the MKD in open sessions. Setya Novanto was also summoned by the MKD but that session was held behind closed doors.

Setya Novanto has refused to answer any question because he considered that the recording was obtained illegally. He also declared that he was not guilty. (WDY)