Accountability speech needs 'clear criteria'

Accountability speech needs 'clear criteria'

JAKARTA (JP): Experts and officials agreed on Thursday that
councillors must establish a set of objective and valid criteria
to assess the annual accountability speeches by regional
administration heads.

The majority of city councillors rejected Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso's accountability speech on July 20 on the grounds that
he had failed to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism
(KKN) within the administration and establish an orderly and
peaceful capital.

Speaking in a panel discussion at the City Council, deputy to
state minister of regional autonomy Afan Gaffar said the annual
speeches were progress reports which had no political
consequences.

"If city councillors wish to reject a speech, they must have
strong and objective grounds rather than certain political
purposes," he told those present at the discussion.

Other speakers included noted constitutional law expert Harun
Alrasyid, Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and sociologist Paulus
Wirutomo.

Afan suggested the councillors formulate a query list to asses
the performance of regional heads.

"City councillors can assess a governor's achievement in the
social sector, for instance, by analyzing indicators such as
social service statistics and juvenile problems," he said.

Paulus shared Afan's opinion, but criticized councillors for
failing to set clear parameters before rejecting the governor's
speech.

Harun said he was amazed at such a controversy, citing that
everything was already regulated by Law No. 22/1999 on Regional
Autonomy.

No care

Meanwhile, Nurcholish said Jakarta residents did not care
whether the speech was accepted or rejected.

"Jakartans are waiting for development programs, which will
hopefully remedy their ills. They will support any administration
capable of providing economic certainty for them," he said.

Although most of the councillors rejected his speech, Sutiyoso
was given 30 days to revise it, as regulated by law. He is
scheduled to deliver a redrafted speech on Aug. 20 before a City
Council plenary meeting.

If this speech is also rejected, the council can recommend to
the central government that they replace Sutiyoso.

The City Council has also made its own ruling, which
stipulates that even if the revised speech is rejected, the
governor has a final chance in a public hearing organized by the
council

The speakers at the seminar, however, said that a hearing of
this nature lacked legal grounds.

"The elected city councillors have already acted according to
the wishes of their constituents. No public hearing is required,"
Afan told The Jakarta Post after the discussion.

Similarly, Paulus said a public hearing could not be held as a
formal mechanism to remove Sutiyoso.

"It's the authority of the city council. We must have legal
certainty in this matter," he said.

"However, a public hearing could be held periodically to
gather the opinions and wishes of Jakarta residents and experts,
to be used as input for city officials and councillors," he
added, while emphasizing that such a forum could only serve as
moral stimulus.

Amir Hamzah of Jakarta Governance Watch agreed, saying the
hearing lacked legal basis.

"Imagine if the council rejects Sutiyoso's speech again, while
the public accepts his performance in the hearing. Then the
council's decision would be destroyed," he said.

"If this happens, the councillors will no longer be legitimate
and have to quit," he added.

Amir said a formal public hearing could only and should only
be held to help the administration during policy-making.

Money politics

In a separate discussion on Thursday, speakers feared that
city councillors would endorse Sutiyoso's speech, bearing in mind
the rumors of money politics at the council.

"Many councillors had nothing before they became legislative
members. They now have companies of their own," Muhammad
Budyatna, a political professor at the University of Indonesia,
told discussion participants at Gedong Joeang building on Jl.
Menteng Raya, Central Jakarta.

"People will be suspicious if councillors decide to endorse
the speech after initially rejecting it. There is not enough time
for Sutiyoso to make fundamental changes within a month," he
added.

Political observer Ichsanuddin Noorsy said Sutiyoso might do
everything to ensure councillors endorse his speech.

"It could be through money politics, or promising projects or
positions in his administration," he told reporters after the
discussion.

"As a former city military commander, Sutiyoso also has good
relationships with businesspeople and public figures who can put
pressure on the City Council," he added. (jaw/lup/nvn)