167 legislators register for Kwik's meeting

JAKARTA (JP): At least 167 members of the House of Representatives (DPR) have registered to attend a meeting organized by former Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie, slated for next week.

Speaking at a media conference at his residence on Jl. Cilacap in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, Kwik who is also a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said the gathering would be held on Nov. 11.

"Probably, the gathering will be held at Hotel Mulia, but I have yet to book the hotel.

"I'll bear all the expenses of the conference," Kwik said after meeting with several legislators who are members of the organizing committee.

He dismissed speculations that the gathering was an initial condition for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) aimed at toppling President Abdurrahman Wahid.

He claimed to have invited all House legislators and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan.

"Ibu Mega did not oppose the gathering. She agreed with it," Kwik said.

In addition to legislators, the conference expects to attract other prominent political figures because former Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo, former Minister of Agriculture M. Prakosa, and former Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris are members of the steering committee, along with Deputy House Speaker A.M. Fatwa, The Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction chairman Ahmad Sumargono and the National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Radjasa.

The conference organizing committee members are mostly young and outspoken legislators, including Ade Komarudin of Golkar, Alvin Lie of PAN, Hamdan Zoelva of PBB, Pramono Anung of PDI Perjuangan, and Suryadharma Ali of the United Development Party (PPP).

Almost all of the organizing committee met at Kwik's residence on Wednesday.

Registrations have been submitted by legislators from all 11 House factions, except from the President's own National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police faction.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung has opposed the gathering, saying that such a meeting was not necessary.

"I would not attend even if I were invited. I think such a meeting is unnecessary," Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar, told reporters on Tuesday.

He suggested that Kwik should propose his idea to the PDI Perjuangan faction, which would then formally discuss the idea in the House.

On Friday, Kwik sent invitation letters to members of the House and the People's Consultative Assembly to hold informal talks on problems facing the nation.

He said he organized the one-day meeting to facilitate dialogue between legislators who share the same concerns about what was going wrong with the country.

"The attendees should not represent their political parties, but themselves. They could come because they are members of the House and the Assembly," he said in his letter. (jun)