Alliance reprimands Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An alliance of political parties that helped
\nelect Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid is clearly losing patience with
\nthe President, saying they had tried to \"correct\" him and, thus,
\nwere no longer accountable for future problems which may arise.<\/p>\n
United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz revealed on
\nFriday that \"Islamic parties\" that helped elect Abdurrahman Wahid
\nas President had met him to urge a governmental management
\noverhaul.<\/p>\n
\"Friends from Islamic parties have met with Gus Dur to tell
\nhim what needs to be corrected,\" Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
According to Hamzah, representatives from seven Islamic
\nparties attended the meeting here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Hamzah contended that any new problems which arose within the
\ngovernment could now not be blamed on the parties which nominated
\nAbdurrahman since they had already presented him with their views
\non the changes that needed to be made.<\/p>\n
\"We have presented our critiques ethically and directly to the
\nPresident,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
\"If Gus Dur does not then make changes, we will be ready to
\nface him head-to-head\".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's election to the presidency is seen by many as
\nthe result of strong advocacy from a loose coalition of Islamic
\nparties and the National Mandate Party (PAN), known as the \"Axis
\nForce\".<\/p>\n
However, there have been increasing signs that these parties
\nare disappointed with Abdurrahman's leadership.<\/p>\n
Apart from earlier suggestions that the President face a
\nspecial session of the People's Consultative Assembly, over half
\nthe legislators at the House of Representatives have also
\ndemanded interpellation.<\/p>\n
Hamzah did not specify on Friday the necessary changes needed,
\nsaying only a complete overhaul was required which could include
\nanother Cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"If Gus Dur wants to run the government well, then his
\nmanagement of the government should be revamped,\" said Hamzah,
\nwho served as coordinating minister for people's welfare and
\npoverty eradication for just a month in Abdurrahman's Cabinet.<\/p>\n
He maintained that the scandal at the State Logistics Agency
\n(Bulog) was in part due to weak management by the President.<\/p>\n
Separately, Justice Party president Hidayat Noer Wahid said
\nthe Islamic parties that met the President on Monday had no plans
\nto hold further meetings with him.<\/p>\n
\"It was our initial commitment to remind him of the basic
\nreason for his election, which was total reform in the country,\"
\nHidayat told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the meeting was not a maneuver aimed at
\nimproving their political bargaining position or a forewarning of
\na move to impeach the president.<\/p>\n
\"What we presented to him has actually often been written in
\nthe newspapers. But we realize the President's limitations in
\nreading newspapers,\" Hidayat remarked.<\/p>\n
But according to Hidayat eight parties, not seven as stated by
\nHamzah, attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
The eight parties were the Crescent Star Party, Justice Party,
\nNadhatul Ummat Party, Indonesian United Islam Party, Muslim
\nCommunity Awakening Party, Masyumi Party, Islamic Community Party
\nand the PPP.<\/p>\n
Interpellate<\/p>\n
Meanwhile during a visit to the earthquake-hit province of
\nBengkulu, House speaker Akbar Tandjung said he had no intention
\nof amassing support to topple Abdurrahman during the coming
\nGeneral Session of the Assembly in August.<\/p>\n
Akbar said that despite the President often brushing aside
\nmany of the House's proposals and appeals, \"I don't have a single
\nthought about that (ousting Abdurrahman)\".<\/p>\n
In a related development, a legislator for the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) said the party is not adverse to the idea
\nof interpellating the President, as long as the substance of the
\nmatter is strong and valid enough to warrant such an action.<\/p>\n
PKB faction legislator Noer Iskandar Al-Barsany said in
\nPurwokerto, Central Java, that if there was credible evidence to
\ninterpellate the president over the recent dismissal of two
\neconomics ministers, then the party would support it.<\/p>\n
\"PKB is not against the use of interpellation rights. It's
\nentirely the legislators' right to do so,\" Noer told The Jakarta
\nPost by telephone.<\/p>\n
\"But the problem is the credibility of the material submitted
\nis not credible,\" he added, pointing out the fact that much of
\nthe documentation submitted to support interpellation was based
\non unconfirmed newspaper reports.<\/p>\n
The House is expected to discuss the proposal during a plenary
\nsession in the coming week.<\/p>\n
Noer predicted, however, that it would be difficult for the
\nplenary session to decide on the issue since the material lacked
\ncredibility.<\/p>\n
Separately, Rubiyanto Misman, rector of Jendral Soedirman
\nUniversity, also expressed objection to the interpellation plan.<\/p>\n
\"It's not necessary for the House to use its interpellation
\nright. At this moment, whoever leads this country will have the
\nsame difficulty in bringing order to the situation. If Gus Dur
\nwas replaced, it would only make matters worse,\" he said.
\n(dja\/45\/09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alliance-reprimands-gus-dur-1447893297",
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