Hyperactive legislators<\/p>\n
Do people now notice that the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nhas become super-active and that it has taken over the role of
\nthe conscience of the nation from the students?<\/p>\n
This is thanks in part to the controversial role played by
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid in dealing with political issues in
\nhis efforts to comply with democratic principles and in what he
\nsees as his prerogatives which must be defended at all cost and
\nby any means.<\/p>\n
In the first place, the legislators, notably of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Functional Group
\n(Golkar), United Development Party (PPP) and the reformist
\nfaction, as we well know, are questioning the true motives for
\nthe dismissal of two ministers (Jusuf Kalla and Laksamana
\nSukardi) by demanding an explanation under the right of
\ninterpellation.<\/p>\n
In a political sense Abdurrahman must now say the truth for
\notherwise it could lead to a vote of censure. Also he must
\naccount for his policy of allowing the disappearance of State
\nLogistics Agency (Bulog) funds by his confidants and the
\nmishandling of a donation from the Sultan of Brunei allegedly to
\nalleviate the suffering of the Aceh people. It should have been
\nallocated with the consent of the House.<\/p>\n
The "opposition" members of DPR regard this to be a serious
\nbreach of the presidential oath though his supporters in the DPR
\ndo not see any violation of the rule.<\/p>\n
In another instance, they have even set up an investigation
\ncommittee on what they claim to be abuse of state funds by the
\npresent Speaker of DPR, Akbar Tandjung, when he was minister of
\nhousing in the Soeharto cabinet.<\/p>\n
Never before has there been such hectic exchanges of
\naccusations between the pro-censure factions and the pro-
\npresident group. The President has been requested to appear
\nbefore the DPR to respond personally to all the questions.<\/p>\n
The whole nation is now waiting to see if the cunning
\nAbdurrahman Wahid will be able to satisfy the opposition or
\ninvent something to circumvent the truth and rely once again on
\nhis huge numbers of followers for moral assistance. In appearance
\nthe cleric president will remain unperturbed under political
\npressure.<\/p>\n
But he hid the truth, still worse, if he thinks he can cheat
\nthe public again, the bells are indeed ringing for his
\nimpeachment.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hyperactive-legislators-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }