Another new political party established

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Council for People's Mandate (MARA), which includes noted opposition figure Amien Rais, revealed that they had laid the groundwork for the establishment of a political party expected to come into being in less than a month.

While no name has been selected for the party, the People's Mandate Party is the one currently being considered by the council.

The council, led by Amien Rais, comprises 44 leading figures such as senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, noted political scientist Mochtar Pabottingi, lawyer Albert Hasibuan and economist Emil Salim.

"The council is now preparing the platform for the political party," Goenawan told journalists during a media briefing here yesterday.

Amien hinted that the launch of the party could coincide with national independence day on Aug. 17, but said that the council would not be hasty in establishing the party and would wait until all the foundational elements were ready.

"God willing, the party will also be ready with its agenda of action," said Amien, who chairs the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization.

Over 40 parties have been set up in the current age of reform following the resignation of Soeharto from the presidency in May.

Many have waited in anticipation at what Amien, who was a stalwart in the early days of the reform movement, would do in channeling his political aspirations.

In the past, even during the Soeharto era, Amien repeatedly stated that he was ready to lead the nation.

However, he has stressed that any political party he set up would not ride on the coattails of Muhammadiyah.

The announcement yesterday that members of MARA would form a political party came on the heels of the establishment of the National Awakening Party by senior members of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization.

Amien maintained yesterday that his party would be ready to cooperate with others who shared similar goals.

"The soon-to-be party (sponsored by MARA) will be ready to cooperate with everybody, any political party, as long as they share a similar platform for reform," Amien said.

He then attacked the Habibie government, whose policies he said had so far failed to show the nation "the light at the end of the tunnel" in its time of crisis.

"It has failed to revive the nations's optimism. We do not know what is in store for us, but judging from the economic indicators, it's gloomy ahead," Amien said.

He conceded, though, that addressing the present crisis was no easy task.

"MARA, therefore, is calling for a general election which is really democratic and open," he said, adding that a new legitimate government trusted by the people would be able to restore faith in the country.

Speaking on the current electoral system being drafted by the government, Amien and Mochtar Pabottingi argued for the country to retain the proportional electoral system.

"The danger of eminent money politics hidden in the district electoral system would allow the current status quo to be preserved," Amien remarked,

Pabottingi warned of the dangers of the district system, saying it would allow already established and affluent parties, namely Golkar, to dominate in the district system.

He said new political parties would find it hard to reach a "level playing field" relative to other more established parties which had long existed.

Moreover, in a situation in which most people were hungry and cash-strapped, "money politics" would come into play and be exploited by the more affluent parties, he said. (aan)