"Whether Sumaryoto would sue Dahlan or not it is up to him. The party would not suggest him to do anything," Secretary of the PDI-P faction at the House of Representative Bambang Wuryanto said.
Samarinda (ANTARA News) - The secretary of the PDI-P faction at the House of Representative Bambang Wuryanto said lawmaker Sumaryoto could sue State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan on charge of slander.

Dahlan reported yesterday to the ethics council of the House of Representatives two lawmakers including Sumaryoto from the opposition party, allegedly trying to extort money from state companies when parliamentary debates were in process on state budget.

"Whether Sumaryoto would sue Dahlan or not it is up to him. The party would not suggest him to do anything," Bambang said here on Wednesday

Bambang , who is here during the parliamentary recess, said his party would summon Sumaryoto and ask clarification from him about the allegation.

"If Sumaryoto denies the allegation and decides to take any move against Dahlan, it would be entirely on his own," Bambang repeated.

Bambang said he regretted the statements of Dahlan about lawmakers seeking to extort money from state companies.

"Earlier Dahlan told reporters at least 10 lawmakers had tried extortion but he reported only two to the ethics council," he said.

Observers said Dahlan might have decided to change his mind and picked only two lawmakers who are more critical of the government or the ruling party.

Bambang also doubted the document presented by Dahlan to the ethics council could serve as legal evidence to back up his allegation.

"It is only two pieces of paper with the chronology of the alleged attempts of extortion," he said, adding, "it is not a concrete evidence."

He said Dahlan had failed to control himself in making such statement.

Other lawmakers have accused Dahlan of trying to draw public attention ahead of the presidential elections in 2014.

Dahlan has been said to have an ambition to run for the presidency with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono out of contention after his two terms. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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