Asking Budi Arie to Clarify PDIP's Allegations of Framing Himself Involved in Online Gambling, Puan: Don't Talk Carelessly

JAKARTA - House Speaker Puan Maharani asked Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi to provide clarification regarding his statement that said PDIP Party and Budi Gunawan were behind the framing of him getting a commission in the online gambling (judol) case. According to Puan, clarification is necessary to avoid slander.

"To avoid slander, please clarify this matter, Mr. Minister. Don't talk carelessly, please clarify," said Puan, Tuesday, May 27.

Puan did not want to speculate that PDIP was being made the scapegoat in this online gambling case, before there was clarification from Budi Arie.

"Don't speculate, but please clarify," said the PDIP Central Executive Board (DPP) Chair.

Previously, a voice recording circulated allegedly of Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi communicating with a journalist. Budi said that the framing of him getting a commission in the online gambling (judol) case was behind the PDIP and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan or BG.

The voice recording is known to be a communication between Budi Arie and Ratastv.co journalist, Agus Supriyanto.

In the recording, the voice suspected to be Budi Arie clearly and explicitly told journalists not to get carried away by the PDIP framing game and Budi Gunawan or BG who cornered him in the judol case.

Regarding the PDIP cadre who reported Budi Arie to the Polda Metro Jaya, Puan invited the complaint to the police. If Budi Arie's statement does not have enough evidence, then the Projo General Chairperson is considered to have spread slander.

"Yes, please do so to avoid slander and avoid unexpected things. Because mentioning one name or one institution without evidence, of course there will be parties who will be hurt," she said.

For that, Puan asked Budi Arie to provide clarification. "So it's better to clarify regarding this matter," she added.

When asked whether PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri was angry about this, Puan was reluctant to comment further. According to her, this matter only needs clarification from Budi Arie.

"I have no comment on that, so please ask the minister to clarify this matter," said Puan.