Harmoko must work hard for clean government: Politicians<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko may have set himself too
\nambitious a task when he pledged that the ruling political group
\nwill fight for clean government.<\/p>\n
While not impossible, Harmoko has taken on a Herculean task,
\ntwo opposition politicians and a political scientist said in
\nseparate interviews with The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Fatimah Achmad from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas from the United Development Party (PPP) and
\npolitical scientist Arbi Sanit said the current administration is
\nstill fraught with abuses of power.<\/p>\n
They didn't have to look far for examples.<\/p>\n
The ongoing investigation of the illegal $430 million loan at
\nstate-owned Bapindo more than serves the purpose. Two former
\nsenior government officials, Sudomo and J.B. Sumarlin, have been
\nimplicated in the scam.<\/p>\n
They all blame the present political system, which prevents
\neffective challenges by Golkar's rivals, as the root of an
\n\"unclean\" administration.<\/p>\n
\"The system creates leeway for abuse of power and rights and
\nwrong conduct,\" Bintang said. \"There have been too many cases of
\nabuse of power and rights,\" he said. \"Isn't it a little too late
\nfor Harmoko to start talking about clean government?\"<\/p>\n
Fatimah said Indonesia could only have a clean government by
\n\"freeing the bureaucracy from the domination of one political
\ngrouping\". Government officials from every rank are in practice
\nrequired to be Golkar members.<\/p>\n
Golkar's argument that bureaucratic \"mono-loyalty\" is
\nnecessary should be rejected, she said, as every citizen should
\nonly be loyal to the nation.<\/p>\n
Harmoko made his commitment to clean administration last week
\nat the end of a Golkar working conference.<\/p>\n
He has also acknowledged that the Bapindo scandal has tainted
\nthe image of the group, but stressed that this could be used as a
\nturning point for Golkar in the drive for clean government.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's image is actually improved with the revelation of
\nthe case, because we have to see it in connection with Golkar's
\nintention to build a strong and clean government,\" Harmoko said.<\/p>\n
The Bapindo scandal was first disclosed to the public by A.
\nBaramuli, a Golkar legislator.<\/p>\n
Bintang, who is known as a vocal critic of the government,
\nexpressed doubts that Golkar under Harmoko's leadership will be
\nable to keep its promise, because the grouping is more committed
\nto keeping its \"single majority\" position.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody knows what clean government is, but Golkar cares
\nmore about winning elections,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bintang said Golkar's insistence on winning a \"single
\nmajority\" position is aimed at developing a \"super power base\"
\nand domination over other political groupings.<\/p>\n
As Golkar cannot be separated from the executive branch of
\npower, he said, it also dominates the legislative bodies.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives, he said, is so weak that it is
\nunable to exercise effective control of the government.<\/p>\n
The problems of abuse have become pervasive and affect the
\npolitical, social, economic and cultural aspects of the running
\nof the country, Bintang said. \"Too much damage has been done.\"<\/p>\n
The three observers suggested that various improvements be
\nmade, including the revision of the system for national
\nleadership selection and the abolition of a number of laws which
\nBintang considers to be the \"tools of political manipulation\".<\/p>\n
The laws<\/p>\n
Bintang was referring to the laws on general elections, social
\npolitical organizations, and the roles and functions of people's
\nrepresentative bodies, which he said are discriminatory.<\/p>\n
Arbi suggested that the House of Representative (DPR) and the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) be \"developed and their
\nroles strengthened\" in order to become effective checks on
\nexecutive power.<\/p>\n
Fatimah said Harmoko's promise of clean government will remain
\na mere slogan if Golkar keeps requiring bureaucrats to belong.
\n\"Such practices are proof that for Golkar the ends do justify the
\nmeans,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The three observers said the quest for a clean government
\nshould also start with the presidency.<\/p>\n
As he has repeatedly done, Bintang proposed that presidents be
\nlimited to two terms. \"In this way, people would dare to hope
\nthat better qualified people would always come,\" Bintang said.
\n\"They would also dare to nominate more than one presidential
\ncandidate.\"<\/p>\n
Term limits would also ensure that \"succession becomes a
\nprocess of electing leaders instead of merely building power
\nbases\", he said.<\/p>",
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