Starting a new era<\/p>\n
When President Abdurrahman Wahid announced the lineup of his
\nNational Unity Cabinet at the end of last month, many circles
\nhere were concerned that the House of Representatives would not
\nbe able to carry out its check-and-balance task because all
\npolitical powers are represented in the administration. \"Can
\nsomeone unveil the dirtiness of his or her own household?\" some
\npeople wondered. So, in such a helpless situation, many pinned
\nhopes on the newly liberated media to take over the job.<\/p>\n
However, the fear evaporated on Thursday as soon as
\nAbdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, started his speech before a
\nHouse plenary session. In a down-to-earth manner the President
\nexpressed happiness at House Speaker Akbar Tandjung's courage in
\nattacking his policy on Aceh, the restive province where people
\nare demanding a referendum to decide their future. Abdurrahman
\nhad earlier voiced support for the controversial demand.<\/p>\n
The President not only surprised the legislators with his
\nopen-mindedness but also invited them to censure his policies
\nwhen necessary. He reminded them that in today's Indonesia, the
\nwords of a president are no longer law.<\/p>\n
It is not hard to guess that the President was referring to
\nthe style of president Soeharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron
\nfist and made the House a rubber stamp for his repeated
\nreelection over three decades, until he was forced to step down
\nby the chaotic situation last year.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said Akbar's open attack on his policy on Aceh was
\na sign of the country's advance into a new era, one of dialog
\nbetween the executive and the legislative branch of government.
\nThis, he said, would lead to the process of making sound national
\npolicies instead of the emasculation of democracy.<\/p>\n
At Thursday's meeting, which was called to seek the
\nPresident's clarification on his decision to scrap the ministries
\nof information and social affairs, the legislators also
\ncriticized the controversial step, his policy on Aceh and the
\nidea to open trade relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
In this first meeting with the administration, the House
\nmembers clearly demonstrated, in their own way, that they are not
\ncarbon copies of representatives of the Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
But we also saw how the President used intellect and style to
\noutwit the House members. Some of them acted like lightweight
\npoliticians who could not possibly last long.<\/p>\n
However, reviewing their backgrounds, the imbalance is
\nunderstandable. And being optimistic, we consider the show a
\npositive push for the nation in its march toward democracy. The
\nday may come when the legislators gain enough knowledge and
\nexperience to finally become a power to reckon with, and shed the
\nlabel of kindergartners that Abdurrahman jokingly bestowed upon
\nthem. Hopefully they will soon be able to speak with deep
\nphilosophical meaning and implement a democratic system not
\nunlike those in advanced countries.<\/p>\n
With the House's power getting stronger, the presidency could
\nfind it not so easy to get its plans endorsed since the House
\nwill be ready to block policies it finds unworkable or
\ndetrimental to public interest. The best example of this is the
\ngovernment's plan to open trade relations with Israel. There has
\nbeen strong protest among the Muslim community against the idea.<\/p>\n
An ideal balance of power in a democratic society is a strong
\nadministration and an equally strong legislative body. A too
\nstrong executive branch leads to an authoritarian rule, and a too
\nstrong legislative branch curbs the administration from moving
\nanywhere.<\/p>\n
We sincerely hope the debate between the President and the
\nHouse members on Thursday will serve as a good lesson for the
\nnation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/starting-a-new-era-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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