On The Run

That Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said dared to report House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Setya Novanto to the ethics council on November 16 came as a shock to the Golkar Party. In panic, Setya turned to Golkar Chairman Aburizal Bakrie to intervene and sweet-talk Sudirman into easing him out of the case.

Two days after reporting Setya to the ethics committee on November 16, Sudirman received a phone call from a Golkar politician who claimed to be Aburizal's emissary. An official with knowledge about the communication said the politician had tried to persuade Sudirman to meet with Aburizal. "The aim was to ensure Sudirman would be willing to settle Setya's case in a friendly and private manner," the official said.

December 8, 2015