Acting speaker was reluctant to lead

Acting speaker was reluctant to lead

By Emmy Fitri

JAKARTA (JP): It looked like the most unenviable job
available. Presiding over a rambunctious 700-seat Assembly just
recently unshackled from years of passivity.

More then once they jeered at the 78-year-old man sitting in
front of the huge Assembly hall. Several times people rolled
their eyes in desperation at his seeming ineptitude.

Some members openly blamed him for his indecisive leadership
which had caused prolonged debates during the plenary sessions of
the Assembly.

But minutes after handing over the nation's highest
institution to elected chairman Amien Rais on Monday morning,
Soejitno Hardjosoediro professed to hold no grudges at the often
rude comments thrown at him in the past three days.

"Why should I get mad or offended? They're all critical
members and I am just trying to accommodate them," Soejitno, a
retired official at the Ministry of Information said.

He commended the dynamism of the Assembly, saying he might not
have the initiative or bravery to raise his hands to interrupt
the sessions.

Soejitno was appointed on Friday along with Izul Islam, 30, of
the United Development Party (PPP) to preside over the sessions
until a speaker of the Assembly was elected.

Soejitno certainly never bargained for the job. Both he and
Izul got the job by default as tradition usually means that the
oldest and youngest Assembly members are chosen as interim
chairmen.

Over three days Soejitno presided over at least four plenary
sessions.

"I didn't have any ambition to preside over the sessions. This
job only adds to my curriculum vitae, it won't go anywhere
anyway. I'm too old to use it," Soejitno remarked.

The Central Java born grandfather first served as an Assembly
member in 1955 representing the Indonesian National Party (PNI).

Despite his age Soejitno is still active in various
organizations such as the Indonesian Associations of Retired
Civil Servants (PWRI), the Elderly People Association and The
Indonesian 1945 Veterans Association.

Soejitno's wife admitted that she was perplexed at her
husband's often indecisive leadership during the sessions.

"At home he's stern and strict with the children," Nawangsih,
66, she said of her husband.

Politics, however, is not something new for Soejitno. "He has
been involved in politics and various movements since he was 16,"
Nawangsih said.

Like many of his generation, Soejitno fought in the
independence struggle.

"Bapak was also in the youth movement in 1928," Nawangsih
added.

She admitted that the whole family would often gather at their
house in Cimanggis, East Java, to watch the televised General
Session.

"There was a bit of happiness, pride and bemusement,"
Nawangsih admitted.

"I think he must be very confused and tired these days," she
added.

Regardless of what people say, Soejitno remains proud that he
helped preside over an historic era in Indonesian politics.

"I tried to serve all, made sure the members stayed awake and
did not become bored during the sessions," Soejitno remarked,
adding that he would now take up the role of trying to be "a good
legislator until I'm not needed".