SPEAKER CONCERNED ABOUT VP'S HECKLER DURING BANK CENTURY HEARING

Jakarta, Jan 12 (ANTARA) - House Speaker Marzuki Alie expressed concern over an insulting remark made by a non-governmental organization activist against Vice President Boediono during the latter's hearing with the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee on Tuesday.

"If there are indications that an insult has really been made there are rules to deal with it and if a law was really violated, please process it," Marzuki said in reply to a reporter's question regarding the heckling that had also embarrassed House Bank Century Inquiry Committee members.

An NGO activist attending the open hearing suddenly shouted "Boediono, thief" while the vice president was being bombarded with questions from committee members.

The man who was later identified as Laode Kamaluddin (35), an activist of the Anti-Corruption Youth Committee (Kapak) shouted the words three times.

Moments later, security personnel standing guard in the room, seized the man and led him out of the room. He was eventually taken to the police headquarters for further process.

Marzuki said the act was clearly unethical and disrespectful to the political process in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"As a young man he should have used a clear mind and been more rational in seeing things. It is not that they are also future leaders. What will the republic be if future leaders have no ethics," he said.

When told that the heckler was a student, Marzuki said a student status must not be sold and it was also improper for a student to give a bad example to the public.

"Yes, it was not good to insult a person like that. An educated person will not shout insults," he said.