Golkar Party Names Ade Komaruddin As House Speaker

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Golkar Party, one of Indonesias largest political parties, has named Ade Komaruddin as the new house speaker to replace Setya Novanto who resigned from the post.

Komaruddin is currently deputy general chairman of the party and was elected during a Bali national conference. He is also chairman of the partys faction in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"Komaruddin was chosen by the general chairman (Aburizal Bakrie) to replace Novanto," Golkar politician M.S. Hidayat noted here on Thursday night.

Another Golkar politician, Bambang Soesatyo, remarked that Novanto and Komaruddin had "swapped" positions.

"Komaruddin will be the house speaker, and Novanto will be the factions chairman," he affirmed.

On Wednesday evening, Novanto submitted his resignation letter as house speaker to the Ethics Tribunal (MKD) since most of its members were in favor of imposing a sanction on him for violating the code of ethics in connection with his conversation with PT Freeports president director.

The sanction would likely be a discharge from the post of house speaker.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said had reported Novanto to the DPRs MKD 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 had denied all charges leveled against him before the council in a closed-door session.(WDY)