Golkar sticks to guns on civil servants in politics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar is holding out for the right
\nof the country's four million public servants to join political
\nparties, turning its back on mounting calls for the bureaucracy's
\nneutrality in elections.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said on Monday that
\nbarring civil servants from becoming members or executives of
\npolitical parties would create \"problems\".<\/p>\n
He added that \"the (civil and political) rights of citizens is
\nstipulated in the Convention of the International Labor
\nOrganization ... the rights must not be curtailed\".<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Indonesian Civil Servants Corps, Feisal
\nTamin, proposed that civil servants should retire if they wished
\nto join political parties.<\/p>\n
\"A civil servant must choose whether to be a civil servant or
\nto be a politician,\" said Tamin, who is also the secretary-
\ngeneral of the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
At the core of the debate is whether the new law on political
\nparties -- passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) sooner
\nthan the Jan. 28 deadline -- should bar civil servants from
\njoining political parties.<\/p>\n
The government originally wanted to impose the ban as a
\nguarantee of the bureaucracy's neutrality. But it later bowed to
\nGolkar's wish by proposing an additional clause providing an
\navenue for civil servants to enter politics.<\/p>\n
A civil servant wishing to become a political party member or
\nexecutive must \"take leave without the state's stipend\".<\/p>\n
Other factions -- the Indonesian Democratic Party, the United
\nDevelopment Party and the Armed Forces -- ultimately agreed to
\nthe new proposal, but a final decision has yet to be reached.<\/p>\n
Tamin even proposed that civil servants wishing to join
\npolitical parties seek \"early retirement\" instead of \"just taking
\nleave\".<\/p>\n
Golkar legislator Yasril A. Baharuddin attacked such move as
\nthe \"killing\" of the civil servants' economic rights.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar wants civil servants to be neutral, that civil
\nservants not be allowed to become members of executive of
\npolitical parties but, if they wish to, they must (only) take
\ntemporary leave,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Because they might want to resume as civil servants.\"<\/p>\n
Andi Mattalatta, Golkar faction chairman at the DPR, seconded
\nthe argument.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar will fight for civil servants rights as citizens.<\/p>\n
\"As a well-educated component of the nation, civil servants
\nwill be able to help improve the performance of political parties
\n(as members) ...and this doesn't refer to Golkar only.\"<\/p>\n
Andi conceded the problem was how to ensure that civil
\nservants, especially those in high-ranking positions, did not
\nabuse state facilities for the interests of their own parties.<\/p>\n
Marzuki proposed that preventative measures be regulated
\nthrough other laws.<\/p>\n
\"In the United States, Australia and Japan, civil servants are
\nallowed to wear two hats,\" said Marzuki, who is also chairman of
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Endorsement<\/p>\n
Despite the debate, factions deliberating draft laws on
\nelections, political parties and status of the legislatures
\nexpressed their commitment that the bill on political parties be
\npassed before the Jan. 28 deadline.<\/p>\n
Four issues requiring further deliberation are civil servants'
\npolitical rights, the nonelected seats to be allotted to the
\nArmed Forces, the state ideology Pancasila, and on adjustment to
\nthe proportional representation voting system.<\/p>\n
Legislator Budi Harsono, who chairs the deliberation on
\nelections bill, said all factions were still waiting for
\n\"guidance and instructions\" from their respective leaders in the
\nfaction central boards.<\/p>\n
But Budi said the debate regarding ABRI seats and the
\nstructure and position of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), DPR and regional DPR would conclude by Friday.<\/p>\n
\"I'm still optimistic we can solve (outstanding problems).\"<\/p>\n
On Monday's deliberation, Budi said the matter discussed
\nconcerned which of the 300 societal groups would be selected to
\nhave representatives in the MPR.<\/p>\n
\"We are discussing how to reduce the number to under 100,\" he
\nsaid. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-sticks-to-guns-on-civil-servants-in-politics-1447893297",
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