Arief criticizes 'political patronage' system<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Academic Arief Budiman questions the
\ninappropriateness of Indonesia's political system which appoints
\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs as patron of all political
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
\"It sounds absurd. (Minister) Yogie is a Golkar (the ruling
\nparty) man, how can he be the political patron of other parties,
\nthe PDI and PPP?\" Arief queried in a long distance phone
\ninterview from Australia yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said that the political patronage is among the many
\npolitical anomalies in Indonesia which needs to be reviewed,
\narguing that such practices will cause the creation of a
\npolitical hegemony by a certain political power.<\/p>\n
Arief was dismissed from the Satya Wacana Christian University
\nin Salatiga, Central Java, in December last year. The outspoken
\nacademic is now completing research at the Monash University in
\nMelbourne.<\/p>\n
Arief's comments came in the wake of Minister of Home Affairs
\nMoch. Yogie S. Memed's remarks that United Development Party
\n(PPP) chief, Ismail Hasan Metareum, was \"sick\" when he stated
\nthat the other two parties had been sidelined under the current
\nGolkar dominated political system.<\/p>\n
Arief argued that perpetuating a system whereby the Minister
\nof Home Affairs is patron of domestic political development
\nhinders the country's political maturation.<\/p>\n
He contends that such a system would succeed only if the
\npolitical patron possessed qualities and skills which displayed a
\nmature vision and mission.<\/p>\n
\"However, what happens is that cabinet ministers are picked
\nmainly based on their loyalty,\" Arief remarked adding that \"this
\nis a very dangerous situation.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, political scientist Riswandha Imawan lamented the
\nminister of home affairs' remarks about the PPP leader.<\/p>\n
\"The minister of home affairs' statement was very improper
\nbecause the word 'sick' in that context implies not of ill-health
\nbut a sick mind,\" said the lecturer at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
Riswandha also felt that PPP members were within their right
\nto demand an apology from the minister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
Representatives from PPP have demanded an apology from Yogie
\nfor his remark, which they considered \"insulting.\" Letters
\ndemanding Yogie apologize have also reportedly been sent to the
\nminister's office and to President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan is scheduled to meet with Yogie at the Home
\nMinistry this morning but it is unclear whether the meeting has
\nto do with the ongoing controversy.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said he could not understand how the minister could
\nhave made such a remark which can be considered a serious affront
\ntowards Ismail Hasan.<\/p>\n
He added that by denying Ismail Hasan's statement that the
\nminority factions, PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI),
\nare being sidelined only lends credence that they are.<\/p>\n
\"In reality these parties have so far been sidelined. It would
\nhave been more appropriate for the minister to accept Buya
\nIsmail's comments as a recommendation,\" he said.(har\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arief-criticizes-political-patronage-system-1447893297",
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