Akbar rules out informal House conference

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung dismissed on Friday any informal meeting between legislators to discuss the nation's present problems.

"It's better to be formalized and use the existing institution. If the meeting would be held outside, it should not carry the name of the legislature," Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, said.

He was commenting on a letter signed by former senior minister of the economy, who is now legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Kwik Kian Gie, which invited members of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly to hold informal talks on problems facing the nation.

Akbar claimed that Kwik was not representing PDI Perjuangan, the largest faction in the House, but was only expressing his personal disappointment with the shortcomings of the government in coping with the obstacles.

"If there is dissatisfaction with the government, it should be expressed through his faction," he remarked.

But secretary-general of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) M.S. Ka'ban welcomed Kwik's idea, saying the legislators have already met separately to discuss the nation's problems.

"Actually, the meetings to discuss the current problems have been conducted by the legislators informally," Ka'ban told reporters.

Although he admitted to not yet receiving Kwik's "invitation", Ka'ban said such a meeting was needed to seek solutions to the problems.

In the letter dated Friday, Kwik invited members of the legislature to discuss the problems in an informal meeting, the date of which was unspecified.

He said he wished to facilitate the one-day talks between the legislators who share the same concerns about what is going wrong with the country.

"The attendees should not represent their political parties, but themselves. They could come because they happen to be members of the House and the Assembly," he said.

Kwik said in his letter that people have now become confused, worried and insecure as a result of the problems plaguing the nation, such as the threat of disintegration and an upsurge of violence.

He deemed that the problems were the fruits of a rotten socioeconomic condition, which was marked by huge unemployment and widespread poverty.

"At the same time, we see injustice where tiny groups of people enjoy incredible luxury and wealth through illegal practices," Kwik remarked.

He complained about the injustice which could also be seen in the legal process against violators in economic fields, not to mention weaknesses in upholding the law.

He feared that people would think that abusing the law is normal, if the legislators do not take a firm stance on this.

"Chaos and anarchy will take place more frequently. The threat of the nation's disintegration could become reality," he remarked in his three-page letter.

Kwik suggested that the legislators seek a common denominator to address the problems, saying they should do so to counteract the public's accusations that the political elites are just creating further disputes and confusion. (jun)