Setya submitted his resignation as House Speaker on Wednesday night after all members of the Parliament Honorary Tribunal voted that he was guilty of an ethical code violation.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Political analyst Ray Rangkuti said the resignation of House Speaker Setya Novanto has come too late and held no meaning.

"The resignation of the House of Representatives (DPR) Chairman only shows his lack of gentlemanly behavior," Ray said on Thursday.

He also expressed the opinion because Setya Novanto had tendered his resignation a moment before the Houses Ethics Tribunal (MKD) made a decision on whether he was guilty.

Setya submitted his resignation as House Speaker on Wednesday night after all members of the Parliament Honorary Tribunal voted that he was guilty of an ethical code violation.

He has been charged with violating the Parliamentary ethical code for holding secret meetings with the President Director of Freeport Indonesia, Maroef Sjamsudin and has asked for a share in the U.S. mining company.

The resignation was tendered before a decision was made by the MKD, which only showed Setyas insincerity in leaving his post as the DPR Speaker.

Moreover, Setyas statement that he had resigned in the interest of the people was not relevant as the people no longer trusted him.

With the resignation, Ray said, the examination process of the House Ethics Tribunal in Setyas case had also been rendered meaningless.

"A lot of the time and energies have been spent but in the end the MKD had finally not made any decision," he said.

He also said the MKD session had only ended with the collection of opinions of its 17 members without banging the gavel to impose a sanction on Setya.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said had reported Setya to the MKD for having used the names of the President and the Vice President in an alleged deal-making bid with PT Freeport Indonesia, which was seeking an extension of its contract.

The minister had submitted the recordings of a conversation that Setya had with the President Director of PT Freeport Maroef Sjamsoeddin and businessman M. Riza Chalid to the MKD as evidence.

Said and Sjamsoeddin were questioned by the MKD during open sessions. Setya was also summoned by the MKD, but the session was held behind closed doors.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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