Buddhist community rejects Hartati Murdaya's nomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Protests continued during the weekend over the
\nissue of minority groups representatives in the interest group
\nfaction of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Some 30 Buddhist organizations rejected on Sunday the possible
\nnomination of a prominent Buddhist businesswoman, Siti Hartati
\nMurdaya, as a representative for minority groups, due to the
\nlatter's alleged close link to the ruling Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
The organizations told a media conference that they would not
\nrecognize Hartati as their representative if the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) insisted on nominating her as a member
\nof the MPR's interest group.<\/p>\n
KPU is authorized by the law on Assembly composition to
\napprove interest group members for the period following the 1999
\npoll.<\/p>\n
\"Since 1993, Buddhist leaders and members of the community
\nwere manipulated by Murdaya to serve her business and political
\ninterests in Golkar,\" a representative of the organizations,
\nBante Prajnavira, told Antara.<\/p>\n
Another Buddhist leader, Maha Pandita Kittinanda, also said
\nthat he was tortured and electrocuted by a number of military
\nmembers sent by Murdaya as he was critical of her leadership in
\nthe government-sanctioned Council of Buddhist Communities
\n(Walubi).<\/p>\n
A number of Buddhist groups staged protests in front of the
\nKPU office in Central Jakarta last week against Murdaya's
\npossible nomination as a MPR member.<\/p>\n
Murdaya was not available for comment on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Murdaya, founder, owner and chief executive officer of the
\nwidely diversified Cipta Cakra Murdaya Group, is known as a
\nsocial activist.<\/p>\n
Some of her projects have included a weekly program to
\ndistribute food packages to the poor in and around Jakarta, and a
\nmassive campaign to organize free medical services, including
\nsurgery, for less fortunate people.<\/p>\n
Critics said, however, that her projects were only aimed at
\npromoting Golkar's political interests.<\/p>\n
Murdaya's businesses include trading and contracting,
\ninfrastructure and engineering, shoes and apparel, wood-based
\nproducts, agribusiness, property, cement and computers.<\/p>\n
She also serves as a member of the Supreme Advisory Council
\n(DPA) and is actively taking part in Walubi's campaigns for the
\nBuddhist community in Indonesia and in promoting harmonious
\nrelations between people of different faiths.<\/p>\n
Her roles in the Supreme Advisory Council and Walubi are not
\nwithout controversy. She was widely criticized, even labeled as a
\npro-status quo member, for her TV appearance last year when she
\nsaid student demonstrations caused anxiety to many mothers around
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Golkar was the main political vehicle of former president
\nSoeharto's 32 years rule and was criticized for its alleged
\ncorrupt practices in the New Order era and the June elections.<\/p>\n
KPU has also been under mounting criticism for its alleged
\nbias in its selection of 65 interest group representatives for
\nthe next People's Consultative Assembly. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/buddhist-community-rejects-hartati-murdayas-nomination-1447893297",
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