Technical Reason, DPR Cancels Cooking Oil Discussion With Trade Minister Lutfi During Recess

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (Photo: Nailin In Saroh/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian House of Representatives canceled a meeting with the Minister of Trade (Mendag) M Lutfi during a recess to discuss the issue of cooking oil. In fact, the leadership of the DPR has scheduled a summons for Lutfi after the Director General of Foreign Trade (Dirjen Daglu) of the Ministry of Trade Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana was named a suspect in corruption in granting export facilities for crude palm oil (CPO) or cooking oil, last April. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, revealed that his party had attempted to hold a hearing (RDP) with Trade Minister Lutfi. However, the meeting was canceled due to technical reasons, namely the presence of faction members who did not meet the quorum.

"At the time of recess, efforts have been made to hold a meeting with the Minister of Trade. However, due to technical reasons regarding the number of faction quorums, and so on, this has not been carried out," Dasco told reporters, Monday, May 9.

Nevertheless, the Daily Chairperson of the Gerindra DPP said that a meeting with the Trade Minister would be held by Commission VI of the DPR after the recess period, or after the next session was opened.

"We'll see if the House of Representatives Commission VI will hold a meeting after the recess, we'll see after entering, there's an agenda right away," said Dasco.

It is known that the DPR leadership previously planned to summon the Trade Minister Lutfi. The plan was revealed by Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Rahmat Gobel, last April. Dasco said that the Minister of Trade Lutfi was summoned to ask for clarification regarding the issue of cooking oil scarcity.

"This Monday, we will summon the Minister of Trade," said Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, April 21.