PDI Perjuangan urges fight against corruption<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) suggested on Tuesday that the new Cabinet fight for
\neconomic recovery and confirm the government's commitment to
\neradicating corruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
Speaking after an executive meeting, PDI Perjuangan secretary
\ngeneral Soetjipto said the message served to keep President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, who is the party's chairwoman, alert to
\nthe political interests of other parties.<\/p>\n
"It is very important for the party to help the President take
\nthese guidelines into account in determining the Cabinet lineup
\nand the programs of the new government," Soetjipto said.<\/p>\n
He added that the party also advised Megawati to appoint
\npersons who are able to bring success to her administration.<\/p>\n
Megawati led the meeting, which was held at the party's
\nheadquarters on Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta. It was the first
\nparty meeting attended by Megawati since she assumed the
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
Soetjipto said the guidelines, recommended by the party's
\nadvisory body, urge Megawati to continue the efforts to settle
\nall corruption and human rights abuse cases.<\/p>\n
"The government should focus on economic recovery, improve
\npeople's welfare and continue combating all corruption and human
\nrights abuses," Soetjipto said.<\/p>\n
He underlined that the party paid serious attention to the
\ncandidates for attorney general, noting that the post should go
\nto a person who has the heart to fight corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the party would support a Golkar member for
\nthe post, Soetjipto said: "I think, at this point, the government
\nrealizes that the person should be free from past mistakes."<\/p>\n
He further said the party suggested that the government elect
\nan economic team which is professional, acceptable to the market,
\nand could work together to boost the economic recovery.<\/p>\n
"Settling threats of (national) disintegration and handling
\nrefugee problems across the country should also be another
\npriority of the new government," Soetjipto said.<\/p>\n
On military and defense issues, PDI Perjuangan expects to see
\ninternal reform within the Indonesian Military (TNI) continue in
\na bid to build a strong defense force.<\/p>\n
Soetjipto also said the new government needed sufficient
\npolitical support from all political powers in the country so
\nthat it would be able to run effectively.<\/p>\n
President Megawati is scheduled to hold a breakfast meeting on
\nThursday with political party leaders at her private residence in
\nKebagusan, South Jakarta, to finalize the lineup of the Cabinet
\nbefore it is announced to the public, possibly on Saturday.<\/p>\n
National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais disclosed the
\nplanned breakfast gathering after meeting with Vice President
\nHamzah Haz on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"It is important to unify our perception before the
\nannouncement of the Cabinet," Amien said, adding that political
\nparties had yet to submit their candidates for ministerial posts.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Soetjipto suggested that the Cabinet lineup be
\nfreed from troublemakers, who would only undermine the Cabinet's
\nunity.<\/p>\n
He said the Cabinet would exclude people from the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB), which vehemently defended former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
It is important for Megawati to use momentum from the market's
\npositive response to her election as president by severing links
\nwith the administration of former president Abdurrahman,
\nSoetjipto said.<\/p>\n
"Because of the political stance of Abdurrahman Wahid and PKB,
\nwe also urged that the Cabinet be cleansed from people that could
\nhamper the government's performance," Soetjipto added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, dismissed PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil claimed
\nthat PKB executives had asked him to talk to Megawati and request
\nthree ministerial positions for the party.<\/p>\n
Acting PKB chairman Alwi Shihab, however, immediately denied
\nMatori's claim, saying that neither he or Abdurrahman had ever
\nasked for seats in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
"It is not true that we asked for seats in the Cabinet. Should
\nwe join the government it should be the initiative of the
\ngovernment not ours," Alwi, who is also the caretaker minister of
\nforeign affairs, remarked. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-perjuangan-urges-fight-against-corruption-1447893297",
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