Don't recall arbitrarily: Syarwan

Don't recall arbitrarily: Syarwan

JAKARTA (JP): A senior-ranking Armed Forces (ABRI) officer has called on political organizations to refrain as far as possible from withdrawing their legislators from the House of Representatives (DPR), even if they are deemed undisciplined.

The political groups would be better off to take disciplinary measures against them rather than "recall" them from the House, Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, assistant to ABRI's chief of socio- political affairs, was quoted by Antara yesterday.

"The move to recall a legislator should be taken only if he had deviated from the political group's official line and could not be brought back on the right course," Syarwan said.

His remarks followed the dismissal of two outspoken legislators over the past month because they were deemed by their leaders as being undisciplined.

Golkar recalled Bambang Warih Koesoemo and the process was completed this month when President Soeharto gave the final approval. The recalling of Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the United Development Party (PPP) is not complete yet, but the House leadership has indicated that it did not see any problem with the PPP executive board's proposal.

Although Bintang's withdrawal is not finalized, PPP has already announced his replacement: Hadimulyo, currently deputy chief of PPP's Research and Development Agency in the Central Executive Board.

Golkar has yet to announce the replacement of Bambang.

Both Golkar and PPP leaders came under criticism from political analysts for firing their outspoken legislators. They said the move would further hurt the House's image often portrayed as a mere rubber stamp agency for the government.

Syarwan, who was recently promoted after serving as ABRI's chief spokesman for two years, said yesterday that withdrawing legislators from the House is not taboo. "But the decision has to be based on logic. It must not be arbitrary."

He said House members who do not perform their job and who are regarded as counterproductive should be recalled.

Syarwan said House members have the right to be vocal "as long as they do it within the legal corridors."

"They can be vocal but they must act responsibly. They should think of the consequences of what they say," he said.

Meanwhile, ABRI, which has 100 of the 500 seats in the House, has announced its plan to replace some of them in what its officials describe as a routine periodic tour of duty.

The changes this time have been seen as perhaps one of the biggest, affecting between 20 and 25 representatives.

The changes come following a major reshuffle in ABRI's leadership over the past two months which affected up to 260 senior-ranking military officers.

Among those rumored to be replace is Navy Vice Admiral Abu Hartono, currently the ABRI Faction chairman.

One of the new ABRI faces expected is Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno, the former assistant to ABRI chief of socio-political affairs.

Brig. Gen. Suwito, secretary of the ABRI faction, said he expected ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung to announce the changes before April 1.

But the actual replacement of some of the representatives could be delayed until June pending the completion of some of the on-going works in the House, Suwito told reporters on Monday. (emb)