Do MPR members really represent the people?

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the presence of many new faces, the big question mark looming large over the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is whether it will really voice the people's aspirations.

Opposition politicians, students and many members of the public believe that the Assembly -- crammed with people who gained their political clout in the New Order regime -- will only serve the interests of Soeharto's successor, B.J. Habibie.

The House of Representatives (DPR)/MPR Speaker Harmoko, who has installed about 250 new MPR members since July, denied that the MPR leadership was trying to pack the Assembly with politicians sympathetic to Habibie's reelection for the 1999 to 2004 term.

"How can (the MPR leadership) engineer it (the presidential election) since I no longer have a position in the Golkar central board?" said the former chairman of Golkar, the ruling political grouping.

He said the installation of new members was not a political ploy because the bodies' three political groups -- the United Development Party, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party -- had the authority to withdraw and replace any of their members.

Speculation of political engineering grew after a former Golkar leader, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, alleged recently the Golkar replacements were installed to ensure Habibie would retain power.

Sarwono was among a number of former ministers and members of the current Cabinet withdrawn from the Assembly.

The others included former manpower minister Abdul Latief, former minister of food Ibrahim Hasan, former minister of social services Inten Suweno, former minister for women's roles Mien Sugandhi, former minister of education and culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, former minister of health Sujudi, former minister of agrarian affairs Soni Harsono, former minister of transmigration Siswono Yudhohusodo, former minister of transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto and former minister of public works Radinal Moochtar.

Minister of Trade and Industry Rahardi Ramelan and State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng were also included in the 37 Golkar representatives withdrawn from the Assembly.

Among the Golkar replacements were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung, former minister of manpower Cosmas Batubara and such Habibie aides as journalist Parni Hadi, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sintong Panjaitan and international relations expert Dewi Fortuna Anwar, now a spokeswoman for the president.

Incoming members also include leading human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman, who on Monday surprised many when he made a public apology for Golkar's past mistakes.

Marzuki, who is also deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, has just been appointed leader of the Golkar faction in the Assembly.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, also the minister/state secretary, quickly refuted Marzuki's statement as "personal".

Speculation has also grown that the new Assembly members from the Golkar faction were recruited from party cadres loyal to current Golkar chairman Akbar.

Harmoko installed 25 new members of the Assembly on Saturday.

Among the outgoing members were former defense minister Edi Sudrajat, former minister of administrative reform T.B. Silalahi and former Army's Special Force chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, Antara reported.

Lawrence T.P. Siburian, Nathaneil Antonius Maidepa and Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang, Commander of the Armed Forces Staff and Command School, are replacing Edi, Silalahi and Prabowo respectively.

Much to the amazement of many, a most sensible proposal was issued from one of the most unlikely and unexpected quarters.

Din Sjamsuddin, deputy leader of the Golkar faction in the Assembly, said last Monday that his faction was proposing that Habibie appoint three of the government's most outspoken critics -- Amien Rais, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) -- as members of the MPR before the Assembly convenes.

The three rejected the offer, saying that it was only a "political cosmetic" to improve the poor image of the legislative bodies. (byg)