Alliance reprimands Gus Dur
Alliance reprimands Gus Dur
JAKARTA (JP): An alliance of political parties that helped
elect Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is clearly losing patience with
the President, saying they had tried to "correct" him and, thus,
were no longer accountable for future problems which may arise.
United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz revealed on
Friday that "Islamic parties" that helped elect Abdurrahman Wahid
as President had met him to urge a governmental management
overhaul.
"Friends from Islamic parties have met with Gus Dur to tell
him what needs to be corrected," Hamzah said.
According to Hamzah, representatives from seven Islamic
parties attended the meeting here on Monday.
Hamzah contended that any new problems which arose within the
government could now not be blamed on the parties which nominated
Abdurrahman since they had already presented him with their views
on the changes that needed to be made.
"We have presented our critiques ethically and directly to the
President," he remarked.
"If Gus Dur does not then make changes, we will be ready to
face him head-to-head".
Abdurrahman's election to the presidency is seen by many as
the result of strong advocacy from a loose coalition of Islamic
parties and the National Mandate Party (PAN), known as the "Axis
Force".
However, there have been increasing signs that these parties
are disappointed with Abdurrahman's leadership.
Apart from earlier suggestions that the President face a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, over half
the legislators at the House of Representatives have also
demanded interpellation.
Hamzah did not specify on Friday the necessary changes needed,
saying only a complete overhaul was required which could include
another Cabinet reshuffle.
"If Gus Dur wants to run the government well, then his
management of the government should be revamped," said Hamzah,
who served as coordinating minister for people's welfare and
poverty eradication for just a month in Abdurrahman's Cabinet.
He maintained that the scandal at the State Logistics Agency
(Bulog) was in part due to weak management by the President.
Separately, Justice Party president Hidayat Noer Wahid said
the Islamic parties that met the President on Monday had no plans
to hold further meetings with him.
"It was our initial commitment to remind him of the basic
reason for his election, which was total reform in the country,"
Hidayat told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
He stressed that the meeting was not a maneuver aimed at
improving their political bargaining position or a forewarning of
a move to impeach the president.
"What we presented to him has actually often been written in
the newspapers. But we realize the President's limitations in
reading newspapers," Hidayat remarked.
But according to Hidayat eight parties, not seven as stated by
Hamzah, attended the meeting.
The eight parties were the Crescent Star Party, Justice Party,
Nadhatul Ummat Party, Indonesian United Islam Party, Muslim
Community Awakening Party, Masyumi Party, Islamic Community Party
and the PPP.
Interpellate
Meanwhile during a visit to the earthquake-hit province of
Bengkulu, House speaker Akbar Tandjung said he had no intention
of amassing support to topple Abdurrahman during the coming
General Session of the Assembly in August.
Akbar said that despite the President often brushing aside
many of the House's proposals and appeals, "I don't have a single
thought about that (ousting Abdurrahman)".
In a related development, a legislator for the National
Awakening Party (PKB) said the party is not adverse to the idea
of interpellating the President, as long as the substance of the
matter is strong and valid enough to warrant such an action.
PKB faction legislator Noer Iskandar Al-Barsany said in
Purwokerto, Central Java, that if there was credible evidence to
interpellate the president over the recent dismissal of two
economics ministers, then the party would support it.
"PKB is not against the use of interpellation rights. It's
entirely the legislators' right to do so," Noer told The Jakarta
Post by telephone.
"But the problem is the credibility of the material submitted
is not credible," he added, pointing out the fact that much of
the documentation submitted to support interpellation was based
on unconfirmed newspaper reports.
The House is expected to discuss the proposal during a plenary
session in the coming week.
Noer predicted, however, that it would be difficult for the
plenary session to decide on the issue since the material lacked
credibility.
Separately, Rubiyanto Misman, rector of Jendral Soedirman
University, also expressed objection to the interpellation plan.
"It's not necessary for the House to use its interpellation
right. At this moment, whoever leads this country will have the
same difficulty in bringing order to the situation. If Gus Dur
was replaced, it would only make matters worse," he said.
(dja/45/09)