Corruption probe targets Wahid

President Wahid (centre) is facing growing criticism

By Simon Ingram in Jakarta

The Indonesian parliament has voted to begin investigating two financial scandals involving President Abdurrahman Wahid.

It is a move widely seen as exacerbate political tensions in the country, after relations between the president and deputies in the 500-seat parliament have become increasingly strained in recent months.

Few belive the president is personally guilty of corruption.

But there is rising frustration over Mr Wahid's sometimes high handed style of government.

Two probes

At issue are two scandals involving money that passed through the president's office.

The larger sum, over $4m, was stolen from the National Food Agency Bulog by, among others, Mr Wahid's personal masseur.

Police say most of the money was subsequently returned.

There is also the matter of a $2m donation that the president solicited from the Sultan of Brunei.

The president says the cash was spent on humanitarian aid for the northern province of Aceh, but deputies are seemingly unconvinced.

After the overwhelming vote in favour of the investigations a senior member of the opposition Golkar party said the move was vital to demonstrate that the government was free of corruption.

Furious

But the vote is also a sign of parliament's irritation with their president's methods of government.

Deputies are still furious over the new cabinet announced last week, which included several controversial figures, close to the president, while virtually excluding members of the two largest parties.

In addition, Mr Wahid has not been forgiven for his failure to give a proper explanation for the dismissal of two ministers from his previous cabinet.

On Saturday, Parliamentary Speaker Amien Rais, a leading critic of the president, declared that the new cabinet had just four months to demonstrate that it was tackling the countries problems effectively.