PDK wants regime change, autonomy<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Unity Democratic Nationalist (PDK) Party has vowed to support
\nthe much-criticized regional autonomy program and to struggle to
\nimprove public administration.<\/p>\n
\"To achieve these goals we need to change the current
\nadministration first,\" party secretary-general Rivai Pulungan
\nsaid on his visit to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
After the regime change, Rivai said the new administration
\nshould establish a single supervision and audit body to replace
\nthe powerless Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and the Development
\nFinance Comptroller (BPKP).<\/p>\n
Although it remains undecided on its presidential candidate,
\nthe party would be prepared to join forces with parties in
\nsupporting an aspirant with the intellectual ability to lead the
\ncountry and solve the acute problems of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism.<\/p>\n
\"The current system cannot eliminate corruption and collusion.
\nWe are offering improvements to the administrative system and
\npublic services,\" Rivai said.<\/p>\n
PDK Party chairman Ryaas Rasyid is a former minister of
\nregional autonomy, while his deputy Andi Mallarangeng is well-
\nknown as an expert in administration studies.<\/p>\n
Ryaas is a former rector of the state-run Administration
\nScience Institute (IIP). He and Andi are known as the brains
\nbehind Law 22\/1999 on regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Many criticized the law for decentralizing corruption and
\nabuse of power, expanding environmental destruction and creating
\n\"little emperors\" who dare to defy the central government's
\npolicies, which was impossible hitherto.<\/p>\n
The government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri is drafting
\na review of the autonomy law, which will reinstate the power of
\nthe central government at the expense of the regional
\ngovernments.<\/p>\n
Rivai insisted that his party would maintain the regional
\nautonomy program, blaming the problems on the implementation of
\nthe law and the absence of operational regulations.<\/p>\n
\"We reject any effort to reinstate centralization. We can show
\nthat the program has benefited the regions, for example by
\nincreasing their revenues. But there are still problems in the
\nimplementation of the law by local officials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To reach the election target, Rivai said the party hoped to
\nsecure votes from people from various backgrounds, including
\nfamilies of IIP graduates scattered across the country who hold
\npositions in the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
He claimed his party enjoyed strong support in eastern
\nIndonesia, East Java, West Java, Jakarta and some provinces in
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier, our party was often called Partai Daeng dan Karaeng
\n(the South Sulawesi People's Party). But that has faded, as our
\ngrassroots support also comes from other regions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Ryaas and Andi, the founders of the party, hail from
\nSouth Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PDK executive RA. Andiani Maria Salib acknowledged
\nher party had not set itself a target of securing a certain
\nnumber of votes in the April general election.<\/p>\n
\"However, we will be happy to meet the electoral threshold so
\nwe do not need to register again for the next general election,\"
\nAndiani, the party's number one legislative candidate in Jakarta,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The election of members of the House of Representatives,
\nregional legislatures and the Regional Councils (DPDs) will be
\nheld on April 5. The presidential election will follow on July 5.<\/p>\n
In order to contest the 2009 election, a party has to secure
\nat least 3 percent of the vote in the upcoming election.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdk-wants-regime-change-autonomy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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