Acting speaker was reluctant to lead<\/p>\n
By Emmy Fitri<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It looked like the most unenviable job
\navailable. Presiding over a rambunctious 700-seat Assembly just
\nrecently unshackled from years of passivity.<\/p>\n
More then once they jeered at the 78-year-old man sitting in
\nfront of the huge Assembly hall. Several times people rolled
\ntheir eyes in desperation at his seeming ineptitude.<\/p>\n
Some members openly blamed him for his indecisive leadership
\nwhich had caused prolonged debates during the plenary sessions of
\nthe Assembly.<\/p>\n
But minutes after handing over the nation's highest
\ninstitution to elected chairman Amien Rais on Monday morning,
\nSoejitno Hardjosoediro professed to hold no grudges at the often
\nrude comments thrown at him in the past three days.<\/p>\n
\"Why should I get mad or offended? They're all critical
\nmembers and I am just trying to accommodate them,\" Soejitno, a
\nretired official at the Ministry of Information said.<\/p>\n
He commended the dynamism of the Assembly, saying he might not
\nhave the initiative or bravery to raise his hands to interrupt
\nthe sessions.<\/p>\n
Soejitno was appointed on Friday along with Izul Islam, 30, of
\nthe United Development Party (PPP) to preside over the sessions
\nuntil a speaker of the Assembly was elected.<\/p>\n
Soejitno certainly never bargained for the job. Both he and
\nIzul got the job by default as tradition usually means that the
\noldest and youngest Assembly members are chosen as interim
\nchairmen.<\/p>\n
Over three days Soejitno presided over at least four plenary
\nsessions.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't have any ambition to preside over the sessions. This
\njob only adds to my curriculum vitae, it won't go anywhere
\nanyway. I'm too old to use it,\" Soejitno remarked.<\/p>\n
The Central Java born grandfather first served as an Assembly
\nmember in 1955 representing the Indonesian National Party (PNI).<\/p>\n
Despite his age Soejitno is still active in various
\norganizations such as the Indonesian Associations of Retired
\nCivil Servants (PWRI), the Elderly People Association and The
\nIndonesian 1945 Veterans Association.<\/p>\n
Soejitno's wife admitted that she was perplexed at her
\nhusband's often indecisive leadership during the sessions.<\/p>\n
\"At home he's stern and strict with the children,\" Nawangsih,
\n66, she said of her husband.<\/p>\n
Politics, however, is not something new for Soejitno. \"He has
\nbeen involved in politics and various movements since he was 16,\"
\nNawangsih said.<\/p>\n
Like many of his generation, Soejitno fought in the
\nindependence struggle.<\/p>\n
\"Bapak was also in the youth movement in 1928,\" Nawangsih
\nadded.<\/p>\n
She admitted that the whole family would often gather at their
\nhouse in Cimanggis, East Java, to watch the televised General
\nSession.<\/p>\n
\"There was a bit of happiness, pride and bemusement,\"
\nNawangsih admitted.<\/p>\n
\"I think he must be very confused and tired these days,\" she
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Regardless of what people say, Soejitno remains proud that he
\nhelped preside over an historic era in Indonesian politics.<\/p>\n
\"I tried to serve all, made sure the members stayed awake and
\ndid not become bored during the sessions,\" Soejitno remarked,
\nadding that he would now take up the role of trying to be \"a good
\nlegislator until I'm not needed\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acting-speaker-was-reluctant-to-lead-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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