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)