Abdurrahman deserves censure, says his brother
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's brother Salahuddin Wahid remarked here on Tuesday that his sibling deserved the censure against him, hoping it would galvanize Abdurrahman's performance and compel him to cooperate with other political parties.
Salahuddin told The Jakarta Post that his brother needed to be warned about many of the things he had done, but such a warning should not be geared towards toppling him from the presidency.
"Gus Dur deserves the censure as it gives him a strong warning to change many things ... and I still believe that if he can show more willingness to compromise with the House he could survive," Salahuddin said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
He further noted that Abdurrahman, in the one month period he has to answer the House of Representatives second memorandum of censure, must also realize his expressed willingness to work with the Vice President and resolve economic matters.
"I am sure that if he's willing to make compromises with the House, stop making controversial statements and concentrate more on his duties," Salahuddin remarked, "he still has a chance to survive the special session."
He underlined that compromise would be the best way to end the political impasse between the President and the House.
Salahuddin nevertheless said it was also necessary for the House to specify in what way the President should make corrections and which aspects of the administration need improvement.
"The House never mentions these aspects clearly. What kind of action has the President taken in violation of the presidential oath or the People's Consultative Assembly decree?" Salahuddin asked.
The House issued on Monday the second memorandum against the President.
Should the House be unsatisfied with the reply given by the President, legislators can call for a special session of the Assembly which could then convene impeachment hearings.
The first memorandum was issued on the basis of the findings of a House probe which alleged that Abdurrahman may have been involved in two financial scandals.
However, in the plenary session on the second censure on Monday, most House factions highlighted their dissatisfaction with Abdurrahman's administration, highlighting its economic failures and the growing destabilization across the country.
Meanwhile, political observer Ichlasul Amal in Yogyakarta also said that Abdurrahman still has hopes of retaining his seat as long as he can persuade his political foes that he is truly willing to compromise.
Ichlasul asserted that the President's future hangs in the balance and the next 30 days could be crucial, as the House could be swayed either way.
"It depends on the House, its stance could soften in a single month," he said.
"There are many people in the House, I just don't know if they already perceive the special Assembly session as one package with this second censure," he remarked.
Despite showing a ray of hope for the President, Ichlasul repeated his call for Abdurrahman to resign as the issuance of the second memorandum is a clear vote of no confidence, indicating that he has lost his political legitimacy.
"Two censures from the House should be enough for him (the President) to draw the conclusion that he must resign," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, back in Jakarta, Muhammadiyah Deputy Chairman Din Syamsuddin was more glum, saying it was too late for the President to make a political compromise.
"It's too late," Din remarked.
Nevertheless Din said if changes were called for "the most important thing for him to do now is to change the management among his inner circle at the Palace and the Cabinet, instead of offering political compromises," Din told the Post.
"If the President stops making controversial statements and tries his best to assure the House of his good intentions then maybe he might still have a chance. But it all depends on him," Din remarked. (dja/44)