Mahfud asked to exercise caution while making public statements

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the House of Representatives (DPR)  Sarifuddin Sudding has asked Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, to exercise caution while issuing public statements.

"Any statement he issues in his capacity as the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs could be a reference," he said during a hearing at the parliament building here on Monday

He expressed the hope that Mahfud, who is the ex officio chief of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), would make a recommendation to the National Police Headquarters if he finds something wrong with an investigation process.

He made the remarks in response to a statement made by Mahfud about a three-star general who would resign if Inspector General Ferdy Sambo is not named a suspect in a murder case.

"Who is the three-star general and what is his business?" he asked.

Meanwhile, concurring with Sudding, DPR member Benny K. Harman asked Mahfud to disclose the name of the three-star general.

The statement of Mahfud, who kept the name of the three-star general a secret, might spark speculations in the community, he said. He then asked the hearing to answer the public question through the DPRs Commission III.

"As a DPR member, we have the right to ask about it," he said.

In response, Mahfud said the statement issued to the public was not in the domain of pro justicia. He stressed that he would not answer the question about the identity of the three-star general.

"I have the right not to answer it and I have communicated with the chief of the National Police, except if the three-star general files a lawsuit in the court against me, I will announce it," he added.

DPRs Commission III invited three state institutions to the hearing to obtain information on the murder of Brigadier Yosua Hutabarat, or Brigadier J, last month.

The three institutions were the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), the Witnesses and Victims Protection Institution (LPSK), and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).