Megawati Asked to Tell PDIP AW

Jakarta, (Antara) - Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri has been asked to order the party lawmakers at the Jakarta City Council to withdraw from taking part in an inquiry motion against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) over budget issue. \"I asked Megawati to instruct PDIP cadres to cancel using their inquiry right against Ahok. If they refused I would ask Megawati to withdraw them from the City Council, Chairman of the Central Advisory Council of the country\'s largest political party AP Batubara told reporters here on Monday. Batubara said he was disappointed with the conflict between Ahok and the City Council. \"Ahok was elected by the people . Only the people have the right to evaluate the performance of Ahok, therefore, the City Council should follow and hear the voice of the people and back up Ahok,\" he said. Batubara said he also supports move by Ahok to report to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) alleged markup and irregularities in the allocation of budget fund signed by the leaders of the city council. All members of the city council which represent all political parties in the country have been united against Ahok who has no party after he resigned from Gerindra earlier. However, Ahok apparently remained confident of the public support and unworried by the inquiry motion that could lead to his impeachment. Vice President Jusuf Kalla ealier expressed support for Ahok, saying , \"it is not easy to impeach a governor.\" \"It is good that the governor is fighting the Council over unclear allocation of big funds,\" Kalla said.(*)