House to probe alleged KKNs in Bukaka contract

The House of Representative will propose for the establishment of a special team to probe possible KKN, the local acronym for corruption, collusion and nepotism practices, in the controversial power transmission contract awarded to Bukaka Teknik Utama, Republika reported on Tuesday.

Irawan Prayitno, the chairman of the House Commission VIII, said that the proposal would be forwarded during a hearing with Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhono today (Tuesday)."If the minister agrees we will soon go ahead with the plan so that we will know exactly whether Jusuf Kalla or President Abdurrahman who are involved in KKN practices," he said.

The government recently cancelled the contract awarded to PT Bukaka Teknik Utama, owned by former minister of trade and industry Jusif Kalla to develop the US$75 million power transmission network due to alleged KKN practices in the obtaining the contract.

Kalla, who was dismissed from Gus Dur's cabinet due to alleged KKN practices in the power project, denied the KKN allegation and he instead said that the contract was suspended under a direct instruction from Gus Dur, the popular nickname of the President.

Kalla accused the government's move to annul his company's contract was made to pave the way for Gus Dur's crony to take over the project. He said that a close friend of Gus Dur, Harold Jansen had intensively lobbied PLN to cut the contract awarded to his company. The man, who according to the press paid the expense for the President's eyes operations in the United States, wanted the government and PLN to name ABB consortium to replace Bukaka in the project. (*)