Changes in the Assembly

A month after his installation as President, B.J. Habibie continues to display agility in his actions. No sooner has the House of Representatives asked the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to convene for a special session than he started flushing the assembly of members who are considered to be involved in collusive or nepotistic practices, whether through ties of kinship or friendship.

By Presidential Decree No. 172/M, dated June 29, 1998, President Habibie discharged 41 assembly members representing functional groups and replaced them with 41 others. What was difficult for Habibie to evade was the fact that the majority of those new members are either close to him personally or are close in interests. Names need not be mentioned, but at least 15 of those 41 are ICMI (Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals) people, an organization which Habibie created and has controlled for eight years. Others are not related to ICMI but are close to him.

From the mathematical and political point of view, Habibie's move is perfect. The Golkar faction to which those new members belong is the biggest in the legislature. By adding the fresh blood of representatives who are close to him, Habibie can be sure he will sail smoothly through the upcoming MPR special session in case vote counting should be necessary.

From the democratic perspective, however, Habibie's act of infusing the Golkar faction in the assembly with fresh blood is a negation of the prevailing spirit of reform. The demands of total reform are being countered with a move of formal reform. The fight to end individual collusion and nepotism is countered with an act of group collusion and nepotism. The People's Consultative Assembly which has been accused of being filled with Soeharto cronies is now dominated by cronies of Habibie. Nothing, therefore, has changed. If all this is true, being unable to progress is a fate this nation will have to accept.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta