Buddhist community rejects Hartati Murdaya's nomination

JAKARTA (JP): Protests continued during the weekend over the issue of minority groups representatives in the interest group faction of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Some 30 Buddhist organizations rejected on Sunday the possible nomination of a prominent Buddhist businesswoman, Siti Hartati Murdaya, as a representative for minority groups, due to the latter's alleged close link to the ruling Golkar Party.

The organizations told a media conference that they would not recognize Hartati as their representative if the General Elections Commission (KPU) insisted on nominating her as a member of the MPR's interest group.

KPU is authorized by the law on Assembly composition to approve interest group members for the period following the 1999 poll.

"Since 1993, Buddhist leaders and members of the community were manipulated by Murdaya to serve her business and political interests in Golkar," a representative of the organizations, Bante Prajnavira, told Antara.

Another Buddhist leader, Maha Pandita Kittinanda, also said that he was tortured and electrocuted by a number of military members sent by Murdaya as he was critical of her leadership in the government-sanctioned Council of Buddhist Communities (Walubi).

A number of Buddhist groups staged protests in front of the KPU office in Central Jakarta last week against Murdaya's possible nomination as a MPR member.

Murdaya was not available for comment on Sunday.

Murdaya, founder, owner and chief executive officer of the widely diversified Cipta Cakra Murdaya Group, is known as a social activist.

Some of her projects have included a weekly program to distribute food packages to the poor in and around Jakarta, and a massive campaign to organize free medical services, including surgery, for less fortunate people.

Critics said, however, that her projects were only aimed at promoting Golkar's political interests.

Murdaya's businesses include trading and contracting, infrastructure and engineering, shoes and apparel, wood-based products, agribusiness, property, cement and computers.

She also serves as a member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) and is actively taking part in Walubi's campaigns for the Buddhist community in Indonesia and in promoting harmonious relations between people of different faiths.

Her roles in the Supreme Advisory Council and Walubi are not without controversy. She was widely criticized, even labeled as a pro-status quo member, for her TV appearance last year when she said student demonstrations caused anxiety to many mothers around the country.

Golkar was the main political vehicle of former president Soeharto's 32 years rule and was criticized for its alleged corrupt practices in the New Order era and the June elections.

KPU has also been under mounting criticism for its alleged bias in its selection of 65 interest group representatives for the next People's Consultative Assembly. (byg)