Speaking to the press here on Friday, Kalla clarified that he had not heard of the social service minister`s plan to quit.
"I have not heard of it. I went to Lombok along with him (a few days ago). (Once again), I have not heard of it. It is regrettable," Kalla noted at the Vice Presidential Palace here.
On Tuesday (Aug 21), Marham had accompanied Kalla while the vice president was on a visit to Lombok Island to inspect the quake-affected areas and to lead a coordination meeting on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged buildings in the aftermath of a powerful magnitude-7 earthquake on Aug 5.
Marham has also met President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace.
Following his meeting with the president, Marham stopped short of revealing his plan to resign. It is believed that the planned resignation is related to his alleged involvement in a case of corruption related to the construction of a thermal power plant in Riau Province.
"Why, if I am (involved), and why if I am not involved?" he noted with a smile.
The Corruption Eradication Commission had questioned Marham thrice as a witness in the case against Vice Chief of the House Commission VII Eni Maulani Saragih and businessman Johannes B. Kotjo, who had been named as suspects.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Marham was involved in the alleged bribery case, citing several meetings between Marham and President Director of state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara Sofyan Basir and several businessmen.
Reportng by Fransiska Ninditya
Editing by Suharto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
