Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the DPR Fadli Zon clarified that the parliamentary delegation did not receive a reward or fee from Trump.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Setya Novanto emphasized that his meeting with the United States presidential candidate Donald Trump was not a declaration of political support but a form of diplomacy.
"This meeting is a form of diplomacy in line with the mandate of Law No. 17/2014 on the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), DPR, the Regional Representatives Council (DPRD), and the Regional Consultative Council (DPD) known as the MD3 Law," Novanto stated at a press conference here on Monday.
Novanto affirmed that the parliament not only conducts political diplomacy but also economic diplomacy.
He remarked that the meeting was not a form of political support.
"It is a normal meeting through a reasonable process," he emphasized.
He pointed out that Trump lauded Indonesia as the largest country in Southeast Asia, with the largest Muslim population in the world.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the DPR Fadli Zon clarified that the parliamentary delegation did not receive a reward or fee from Trump.
"There is no reward (fee). We only support the investors who want to invest in Indonesia. It is in line with the presidents expectation," Fadli affirmed.
According to Fadli, the meeting aims to attract investors to invest in Indonesia.
"We did not set up the meeting. We met Trump spontaneously," he noted.
Fadli pointed out that the meeting was a friendly visit in keeping with the interests of the nation.
He revealed that the delegation members used their personal funds in order to meet Trump.
"The travel budget will be audited by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). Let us monitor the audit, then we can compare it," he stated.
Earlier, DPR Speaker Novanto, Deputy Speaker Zon, Chairman of the House Commission III Aziz Syamsuddin, Deputy Chairman of the House Commission I Tantowy Yahya, and Deputy Chairman of the House Commission VII Satya Widya Yudha were invited to a press conference by the United States presidential candidate.
The meeting with Trump was not part of their official agenda in New York where they took part in a world conference of parliamentary leaders.
The Indonesian delegation was scheduled to return home on Thursday, but Novanto and several leading members of the delegation went to attend the political campaign organized by the business tycoon.
Trump even introduced Novanto as speaker of the Indonesian DPR.
The presence of the leader of the DPR had caused a national furor, drawing strong protests from fellow members of the parliament and political observers.
House Deputy Speaker of the Democrat faction Agus Hermanto remarked that the DPR Honorary Council Tribunal will review the report of the meeting.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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