New look Golkar faces problem in policy reformation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The many new faces in the government-backed
\nGolkar faction in the new House of Representatives will be a
\nproblem in the political organization's policy reformation,
\npoliticians said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Only 20 percent of 282 Golkar legislators will keep their
\nseats when the House's five-year term ends Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
The few old faces will line up in the 325-strong Golkar
\nfaction which is certain to dominate the next legislative body.<\/p>\n
The huge number of Golkar debutants has raised public
\nexpectations of a different style of faction, mainly because of
\nthe party's campaign promises.<\/p>\n
\"Reformation does not always come from changes in crew
\nmembership, but from consistency in launching fresh ideas,\"
\noutgoing Golkar legislator Didiet Haryadi Priyohutomo said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
He said the faction would suffer a setback to conservatism if
\nit failed to deliver its major campaign promise of eradicating
\ncorruption and collusion from the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\"People wait for nothing but Golkar's successful anti-graft
\ncampaign. It is politically complicated because it will pit
\nbureaucrats against fellow Golkar cadres,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Minority parties have repeatedly criticized Golkar for relying
\non the support of the bureaucracy and the armed forces.<\/p>\n
One Golkar legislator who will be back, Slamet Effendy Yusuf,
\nsaid the party's commitment to clean government was beyond
\nquestion, but legislators could not carry the burden of
\nfulfilling campaign promises.<\/p>\n
\"All policies, including the anticorruption campaign, came
\nfrom Golkar's central board, not the legislators,\" Slamet said.<\/p>\n
He said many legislative candidates joined the chorus of
\nanticorruption calls during the electoral campaign in their
\ncapacity as Golkar cadres.<\/p>\n
Slamet agreed with Didiet that Golkar's members being
\npredominantly debutants did not guarantee a reformation in the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
\"Efforts to empower the House do not depend solely on each
\nlegislator but also on the political environment and the public
\nimage of the legislative body,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the political system was allowing more people to
\nexpress their aspirations but that improvement was needed.<\/p>\n
\"It's naive to compare democratization in Indonesia with that
\nin countries with established democratic traditions. I believe,
\nanyway, that democracy is a matter of time here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Slamet said Golkar played a key role in the efforts to empower
\nthe House.<\/p>\n
The House is thinking about amending its internal rules that
\nhave been blamed for preventing it from executing its control
\nover the government.<\/p>\n
In a bid to do a good job, Golkar has prepared a team of
\nexperts to help its legislators.<\/p>\n
Another second-term Golkar legislator, Syamsul Mu'arif, said
\nthe faction would maintain its traditional stance of criticizing
\nthe government without becoming an opposition force.<\/p>\n
\"It's important for each legislator, therefore, not to shut
\nhis or her mouth but to develop improvisation skills. A silent
\nGolkar will cost the House and the nation democratization,\" he
\nsaid. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-look-golkar-faces-problem-in-policy-reformation-1447893297",
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