"There is no pressure from the party. We did not intervene in his resignation. Since the beginning there has been no intervention whatsoever," Sjarifuddin Hasan, a member of the party`s board of patrons, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Democrat Party gave the assurance on Friday it had not intervened in the resignation of Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng following the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)`s decision to name him a suspect in a graft case.

"There is no pressure from the party. We did not intervene in his resignation. Since the beginning there has been no intervention whatsoever," Sjarifuddin Hasan, a member of the party`s board of patrons, said.

Instead, the party highly appreciated him for his decision to quit from the post, he said.

He also respected Mallarangeng`s decision to quit as a party member.

"We must highly appreciate him because he resigned to respect the KPK`s step and to be able to focus on the legal case filed against him," he said.

Sjarif, who is also a minister for cooperatives, small and medium scale businesses, said Mallarangeng`s decision is worthy of respect because he wanted to show his commitment to take responsibility.

"He will prove at the court that he is not involved in the case. That`s why he wants to focus on the matter," he said.

Mallarangeng announced his decision to resign as youth and sports minister on Friday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a press conference here on Friday stated that he had accepted Mallarangeng`s resignation.

"I accept the minister`s resignation. I appreciate his initiative to resign and I hope justice will be implemented in this case," the President said.

Mallarangeng resigned after the KPK named him a suspect in the Hambalang sports centre graft case, which caused the state losses of Rp246.6 billion.

The minister, who is also a high-ranking official at the ruling Democrat Party, said he wanted to concentrate on the legal case filed against him.

The Hambalang case has turned into a controversial issue as it has implicated several political figures. The problem was first revealed by former Democrat Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is now in jail after being convicted of corruption.

According to an audit conducted by the Audit Supreme Agency (BPK) recently, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo were found responsible for the misuse of funds in connection with the construction of the national sports education centre in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.

The audit found that Andi and Agus were "guilty by omission" for failing to follow the regulations on government projects. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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