Government overly casual, uncoordinated, legislators say<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Overly casual and uncoordinated were the
\nimpressions of senior House of Representatives members and
\nobservers of President Abdurrahman Wahid's first 100 days in
\noffice.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nspecifically highlighted a lack of coordination within the
\ncabinet and a haphazard response to regional problems as things
\nthe government should strive to improve.<\/p>\n
He urged the President to prepare a precise outline of
\nobjectives and a job description for each cabinet member to
\nimprove coordination.<\/p>\n
Akbar acknowledged that it is unfair to harshly judge a 100-
\nday government, but he remarked that these weaknesses, if not
\nquickly addressed, could hamper the government's work in the
\nimmediate future.<\/p>\n
Akbar, also chairman of the Golkar Party, pointed to the
\ngovernment's failure to sufficiently deal with rising tensions in
\nvarious provinces, specifically Aceh and Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"His (Abdurrahman's) measures to settle urgent situations
\nincluding cases in Aceh and Ambon are not effective,\" Akbar
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman was elected the country's fourth president on Oct.
\n20, while Megawati Soekarnoputri, his rival in the presidential
\nelection, became vice president.<\/p>\n
While he has shown a strong commitment to repairing freedoms,
\ncurdled during the New Order era, many observers have complained
\nthat the new government is disorganized with no clear concept of
\nhow to resolve national problems.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, himself, did not seem to hold much faith in his
\ncabinet when he announced the lineup: \"this is the best we could
\ncome up with\". He has often described the composition of the
\ncabinet as a result of horse-trading.<\/p>\n
A month after the cabinet was formed it was immediately
\nembroiled in controversy with the departure of the chairman of
\nthe United Development Party (PPP), Hamzah Haz, who was
\ncoordinating minister for people's welfare.<\/p>\n
A.M. Fatwa and Hartono Mardjono, deputies to the House
\nspeaker, also reproached the government for its lack of clear
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
They described the current government as a one-man show with
\nthe President the only one having a clue to what is going on.<\/p>\n
Fatwa said Abdurrahman, in his first 100 days, was busy making
\nstatements but neglected to consolidate his cabinet and setup
\nconcrete programs.<\/p>\n
Hartono said the cabinet seemed confused as they have no clear
\nprogram. He regarded this as a consequence of the fragile
\nrelations between the President and certain factions within the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who held several cabinet posts under former presidents
\nSoeharto and B.J. Habibie, also reproached Abdurrahman's
\nnumerous, extensive trips overseas.<\/p>\n
He particluerly critizied this week's planned 16-day departure
\nto 13 countries.<\/p>\n
\"The visit is too long, and our domestic problems are no less
\nimportant,\" said Akbar.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is scheduled to depart to Saudi Arabia on Friday
\nand begin a tour which includes Britain, Germany, France, the
\nNetherlands, the Vatican, Switzerland, South Korea and India.<\/p>\n
Akbar also lamented that far too often the President seemed
\nhappier joking about matters, rather than actually addressing
\nthem in the most serious fashion.<\/p>\n
The House speaker cautioned the President over his habit of
\nmaking jokes, saying that inappropriate antics would worsen the
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
Rizal Ramli, chief of noted economic consulting firm Econit,
\ncalled on the President to replace Coordinating Minister for
\nEconomy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie because he has so far
\nfailed to make any initiative toward defusing the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
\"A coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry
\nshould think most about policy and strategy to repair the
\neconomy, but he seems busier digging up and censuring the past,\"
\nRizal remarked.<\/p>\n
Rizal sarcastically remarked that it would be more appropriate
\nfor Kwik to be appointed chief of the Supreme Audit Agency or
\nAttorney General since he seems to enjoy prying into the past so
\nmuch. (rms\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-overly-casual-uncoordinated-legislators-say-1447893297",
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