I am following the directives of the Golkar Party's Central Executive Board and General Chairman. I nullify D's party membership
Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA) - The central executive board of the Golkar Party’s South Sumatra chapter has sacked a legislator representing the party's faction in the Palembang city legislative body following his arrest on a drug-related offence.



The sacked lawmaker has been identified as D. He was apprehended by a team of officials drawn from the National Narcotics Agency and police on Tuesday morning. Officials seized 5 kg of crystal meth and 30 thousand ecstasy pills from him.



Chairman of the Golkar Party’s South Sumatra chapter, Dodi Reza Alex Noerdin, said D has committed an extraordinary crime and therefore, can be subject to severe punishment.



“I am following the directives of the Golkar Party's Central Executive Board and General Chairman. I nullify D's party membership," he announced, adding that D has damaged the party's image.



D was elected as a member of the Golkar Party faction at the Palembang city legislative body in 2019. "The Golkar Party will never tolerate those committing drug crimes," he said.



D was apprehended along with five other suspects who were allegedly working for him. BNN investigators informed that D was receiving drug supplies from Aceh province and selling them in Palembang city and its surrounding areas.



Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers who perceive it as a potential market. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.



Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs transcend communities, and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.



In August, 2018, Ibrahim Hasan alias Ibrahim Hongkong, a member of Langkat district's legislative body in North Sumatra province, was arrested over his alleged involvement in trans-national drug trafficking activities.



After the case came to light, Ibrahim was sacked from the membership of the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), where he had started his political career.



With drug kingpins smuggling and trading drugs in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against them.



Indonesian President Joko Widodo has even issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.



However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers. They continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets, even as Indonesian law enforcers keep the fight going against them. (INE)


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EDITED BY INE

Translator: Aziz M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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