Akbar case reveals crack in coalition govt

Akbar case reveals crack in coalition govt

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Signs of a crack in the coalition government between the
largest and second largest party, which catapulted Megawati
Soekarnoputri to the presidency last July, is getting more
obvious as the days go by.

The first sign was discernible on Monday when the Attorney
General's Office named Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who is
also Speaker of the House of Representatives, a suspect in the
latest financial scandal involving the State Logistics Agency
(Bulog).

The announcement was made following an approval from President
Megawati, who is also chairperson of PDI Perjuangan.

The split gained momentum on Friday when the Golkar faction in
the House criticized Megawati's six-month-old government in what
it called a policy review media briefing.

The criticism was the first maneuver by the 120-seat Golkar
faction after Akbar was named a suspect in the Rp 40 billion
scam. As the largest party, PDI-Perjuangan has 153 seats in the
House.

But faction chairman Marzuki Achmad was quick to deny
speculations that the criticism was simply political revenge.

"This is a preliminary evaluation. We all know Golkar is
having a hard time, but we don't want to ignore public
suffering," Marzuki said at the media briefing.

Golkar's long list of gripes of Megawati's leadership ranges
from the nepotistic appointment of her husband Taufik Kiemas to
lead a recent ministerial delegation to China to the inconsistent
plan in raising fuel prices.

The PDI Perjuangan faction and the third largest faction, the
National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, have been the factions
most ready to endorse the establishment of a House special
inquiry on Akbar.

Legislators from Golkar are lobbying other party leaders to
halt the establishment of an inquiry team. PDI Perjuangan
secretary-general Sutjipto and the chairman of the fourth largest
party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien Rais, acknowledged
that they had been lobbied by Golkar legislators.

However, officials from the United Development Party (PPP) and
PKB said they had not been lobbied by Golkar.

"Perhaps, they think it's useless to talk with us," PKB leader
Ali Masykur Musa told The Jakarta Post.

Despite the lobbying sessions, no clear conclusion had emerged
from the talks.

Chairman of the military faction Budi Harsono maintained its
previous stance, saying that the legal process must be observed
closely during the investigation of Akbar.

During the media conference, most of Golkar's leading figures
attacked virtually all the government's policies, especially
those that had allegedly deepened public suffering, such as the
hike in fuel prices, telephone rates and daily essentials.

Touching on the appointment of Taufik Kiemas by President
Megawati to lead a ministerial delegation to China, Chairman of
Commission I for foreign affairs Ibrahim Ambong said it could
damage the role of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"We must prevent another ill-conceived policy from happening.
We have to keep our state administration on track," he added.

Fellow legislator from Commission IX for financial affairs
Paskah Suzetta said the inconsistency in the government's plans
to raise fuel prices had led to widespread fuel stockpiling by
speculators.

With regard to the length of the delay, Paskah said the longer
the delay the higher the deficit to the state budget.

He also criticized the Rp 15 trillion hike in fuel subsidies
allocated last year from an estimated Rp 53 trillion to Rp 68
trillion.

"It means the government is incapable of managing the fuel
subsidies," he said.