Akbar irked by campaign against crooked politicians
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While noted figures, scholars and some politicians have expressed support for the national movement against unscrupulous politicians, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung doubts the movement will live up to its expectations.
Apart from questioning the campaign, Akbar, who is a convict in a Rp 40 billion graft case, strongly criticized the movement itself.
"The movement is simply a waste of time and energy, because it will only revive old problems," Akbar told a year-end media conference on Tuesday. Party secretary-general Budi Harsono and other leaders were present at the event.
He was commenting on the declaration of a national drive that calls on the public not to vote for "rotten" politicians in the elections next year.
Earlier, Kwik Kian Gie of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Andi A. Mallarangeng of the United Democracy Nationhood Party (PPKD) expressed their support for the campaign.
Members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) attended the declaration on Monday in support of the movement, which will include publication of a list of "rotten" politicians in February.
The movement defines rotten politicians as those who have been involved in at least one of five activities: corruption, human rights abuses, environmental destruction, sexual abuse or drug dealing.
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Teten Masduki, one of the movement's initiators, said the campaign should haunt political parties whose members have committed misdeeds.
The elections law enables suspects or convicts who have lodged an appeal to contest the general election, provided that the crimes in which they are implicated carry custodial sentences of less than five years.
All 24 political parties submitted their respective lists of legislative candidates to the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Monday.
KPU, however, has allowed political parties to make alterations to their lists until January next year, when it will announce the definitive list of aspirant legislators.
The country will hold the general election on April 5 next year and the landmark direct presidential election on July 5.
Akbar asserted that Golkar had its own criteria and always took into account existing legislation in nominating its legislative candidates.
He doubted if supporters of the movement were "cleaner and better" than any figures they regarded as "rotten".
Among the figures attending Monday's declaration were Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, economist Faisal Basri, historian Anhar Gonggong, political expert J. Kristiadi and sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo.
Senior journalist Goenawan Mohammad, rights activists Munir and Bambang Widjojanto, and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin were also present.
"Proponents of the movement are not necessarily better than others," Akbar said.
He suggested that the nation focus on developing the country instead of discussing old problems.
Taking Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia as examples, Akbar said the three neighboring countries had moved ahead because they opted to look forward rather than to the past.
Akbar maintained that the ultimate decision maker in a general election was the people.
"Let the people elect their choices. If people vote for legislative candidates whom a certain group considers rotten, then what we can say?" he asked.