Agung Laksono Denies WikiLeaks, The Age Reports

DENPASAR, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono denied on Friday the report from WikiLeaks and Australian Newspaper The Age about him telling a US diplomat negative things about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Agung was responding to the recent report published by WikiLeaks  quoted by The Age, about him telling a US embassy officer that TB Silalahi "functioned as a middleman, relaying funds from national entrepreneur Tommy Winata to Yudhoyono, protecting the president from potential liabilities that could arise if Yudhoyono were to deal with Tomy directly."

Tomy Winata reportedly also used prominent entrepreneur Muhammad Lutfi as a channel of funds for Yudhoyono. Yudhoyono appointed Lutfi chairman of Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board. "It is not true. I strongly regret that the report is made without accurate data and facts," Agung said.

Agung said he respected President Yudhoyono and had a good relationship with him over many years that it was impossible for him to state negative things about Yudhoyono.

Agung also said he would soon meet President Yudhoyono to clarify the issue. In the meantime, he expressed appreciation to Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa who had called on US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel to clarify the issue.

Australian newspaper The Age quoting a leaked document posted by WikiLeaks on Friday said President Yudhoyono during his presidency had "abused" his power as Indonesia’s commander in chief by influencing a trial to protect corruptors and using the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to spy on his political enemies.