Executives don't have to quit political parties: Akbar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political party leaders are not required to
\nleave their party posts after being appointed to government
\npositions, despite public demands that they do so, House of
\nRepresentatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said.<\/p>\n
\"It is not mandatory. They don't have to quit their positions
\nin their respective parties,\" he said at his office on Monday.<\/p>\n
He admitted that maintaining party leadership while holding a
\ngovernment post could give rise to a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
\"But even if they quit their party posts there is no guarantee
\nthat there will not be a conflict of interest,\" he said, as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, it is the public's duty to supervise all
\npolicies undertaken by the government to prevent any conflicts of
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
Many observers here have suggested that government officials
\nshould relinquish active membership in political parties so that
\nthey can concentrate on their duties.<\/p>\n
At least three political party leaders have been appointed as
\ngovernment officials: President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nchairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan); Vice President Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP); and Minister of Justice and Human Rights
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra, chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).<\/p>\n
\"The policies undertaken by executives are not the same as the
\nones taken by the legislature. Executives' policies immediately
\naffect the public,\" he added.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium
\nEnterprises Alimarwan Hanan firmly expressed his refusal to leave
\nhis position as PPP's secretary-general, saying there is no
\nreason to do so.<\/p>\n
\"There is no regulation on that, so I will not leave my
\nposition as PPP secretary-general. Instead, I will work harder
\nfor my party,\" he said after the new administration's first
\nCabinet meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Sutjipto said that
\nMegawati was still needed as party chairwoman although she was
\nnow the country's president.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan still needs Ibu Megawati as the uniting
\nelement of the party. We are not yet ready for her to leave the
\nparty,\" he told television station Metro TV. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/executives-dont-have-to-quit-political-parties-akbar-1447893297",
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