President doesn't object to my meeting, says Kwik<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy,
\nFinance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie continued his push for a
\nmeeting between top legislators to discuss the state of the
\nnation, and received a nod of approval from the President on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Abdurrahman at the
\npresidential palace, Kwik claimed the President had not objected
\nto the meeting.<\/p>\n
Kwik said Abdurrahman admitted that he had not read the notice
\nsent to him concerning the meeting but said that such a gathering
\nwas part of the democratic process.<\/p>\n
Kwik said he briefed Abdurrahman on the aims of the meeting
\nwhich was designed as \"a medium for expressing opinions\" by
\nlegislators without representing their own political parties.<\/p>\n
Kwik also said the President had expressed no concerns that
\nthe meeting would be used as a means to rattle the government.
\nThe meeting, pledged Kwik, would not reach any conclusions and
\nwould be open for press coverage.<\/p>\n
Before his meeting with Abdurrahman on Friday, Kwik on
\nThursday evening paid a call on House of Representatives Speaker
\nAkbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, said on
\nFriday that he would not attend the meeting as he had a prior
\nparty engagement in Central Java.<\/p>\n
But he stressed that he did not object to the meeting and
\ncalled on those attending to use the name of the House as an
\ninstitution when voicing their opinions during the meeting.<\/p>\n
But the planned meeting is already facing opposition from the
\nPresident's own National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI)\/Police faction who have said that they would not
\nattend.<\/p>\n
Akbar viewed the PKB's rejection as being based on an initial
\nassumption that the meeting would end up trying to discredit the
\nPresident or the government.<\/p>\n
\"But the TNI\/Police faction's absence is understandable as
\ntheir organization is very tight,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil on Friday \"suggested\" that
\nparty members should not attend the meeting.<\/p>\n
He also questioned the purpose of convening such a meeting
\noutside the confines of the House as it was supposed to be solely
\nattended by legislators.<\/p>\n
\"There's no reason to attend the meeting. But it's Kwik's
\nright (to organize one),\" Matori, who is also Deputy Speaker of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly, said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Abdul Kholiq Achmad, secretary of the PKB faction
\nin the House, revealed that Matori had also issued a formal
\n\"suggestion\" not to attend the meeting during a party plenary
\nsession earlier on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The PKB opposes the meeting and its legislators are barred
\nfrom attending it because it is sponsored and attended by House
\nmembers who are disappointed with the government's performance,\"
\nhe told reporters.<\/p>\n
Achmad said that according to Matori, Kwik's present political
\nstance on the government differed from his previous one when he
\nserved as a coordinating minister.<\/p>\n
Achmad pointed out that while in the cabinet Kwik was full of
\nsupport for the President but was now becoming increasingly
\ndisenchanted with the government.<\/p>\n
\"And the more than 170 legislators who have confirmed their
\npresence at the meeting are Gus Dur's critics and those who have
\nsupported the ongoing investigation into Buloggate,\" he said
\nreferring to the House probe on a corruption scandal allegedly
\ninvolving the President.<\/p>\n
At least 167 legislators have registered to attend the meeting
\nwhich is expected to take place at the Hotel Mulia, South
\nJakarta. (jun\/rms\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-doesnt-object-to-my-meeting-says-kwik-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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