New Order forces emerge as reform in disarray: Analyst<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The return of New Order forces, manifested in the nomination of
\nformer president Soeharto's daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardiyanti
\nRukmana as a presidential candidate, should be a sign for pro-
\nreform political parties to join hands, an analyst says.<\/p>\n
Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI) said on Friday that the resurrection of New Order forces
\nwas due to the apparent failure of existing political parties to
\npursue a reform agenda.<\/p>\n
"The return of New Order forces is caused by the
\ninconsistencies of the present government and legislators in
\ntheir pursuit of total reform," he said here on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), led by
\nformer Army chief Gen. (ret) Raden Hartono, had asked Tutut to
\nrun for presidency in the country's first-ever direct
\npresidential election next year.<\/p>\n
Tutut, once groomed to take over the national leadership, did
\nnot immediately accept the invitation but hinted that she would
\nrun for the presidency if deemed qualified.<\/p>\n
Ikrar said PKPB could grow, returning New Order forces to the
\ncountry's political stage, if politicians did not mend their
\ncorrupt ways.<\/p>\n
"Because the people are irritated by existing politicians who
\namass state wealth," he added.<\/p>\n
According to Ikrar, politicians today were more corrupt than
\nthose previously.<\/p>\n
Panda Nababan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan), however, disagreed that the present government
\nwas responsible for the revival of New Order forces.<\/p>\n
He called for the national press not to produce reports that
\ninfluenced people to want the New Order back.<\/p>\n
He said the government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri had
\ndone its best. According to him, the present government had been
\nable to revive the economy.<\/p>\n
"Please remember that there was no labor demonstration
\ndemanding bonuses ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. I think that
\nis a sign of progress," he said.<\/p>\n
Panda said if the government failed on some fronts, this was
\nbecause it had inherited many burdens from the New Order
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Separately, the General Elections Commission (KPU) claimed
\nthat it was not concerned about the many figures with links to
\nthe New Order era, returning to the national political stage.<\/p>\n
"As long as they follow the regulations, we do not care about
\ntheir backgrounds," KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the many veteran politicians nominating
\nthemselves as members of the Regional Representatives Council
\n(DPD).<\/p>\n
They are, among other figures, Kemala Motik Abdul Gafur (who
\nalso joined Golkar's presidential candidacy), Bambang Warih
\nKoesoema (former Golkar legislator), Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
\n(former Golkar leader), A.A. Baramuli (former Golkar leader) and
\nBeddu Amang (former head of the State Logistics Agency).<\/p>\n
Ramlan said the phenomenon indicated the failure of new
\npolitical parties to recruit qualified members.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-order-forces-emerge-as-reform-in-disarray-analyst-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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