DPR must suspend Akbar: Riswandha

The Golkar Party has stated it would withdraw its support for President Megawati Soekarnoputri should the legislature decide to form a special committee to look into the alleged graft scandal involving its Speaker, Akbar Tandjung -- though this statement was then retracted. Can the government work without Golkar's support? The Jakarta Post talked to lecturer in politics Riswandha Imawan of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, who spoke to reporter Sri Wahyuni.

Question: Golkar retracted an earlier "threat" to withdraw its support for the President, despite the pact on a political moratorium to let Megawati work undisturbed to 2004. Does this change in attitude show that Golkar isn't solid, that its threat is not significant?

Answer: There has been an effort (in Golkar) to escape from a collective responsibility by sacrificing one person: (its chairman) Akbar Tandjung. There is politicking within the party to oust him from Golkar.

Akbar can no longer be maintained (to lead Golkar), as what he has said regarding the scandal has not made any sense, his statements were quite irrational. How could he say that the funds were spent to help people out of a food crisis but channeled it through an organization dealing with services for bereaved families?

If Golkar members want to save the party they could let Akbar be processed according to the law, and there is a (recently issued) decree of the House of Representatives (DPR) which makes this possible -- that in the case of indications that any of its members are involved in a (legal) case, the member should be temporarily released (of his responsibilities).

Akbar also said he never "physically" received the fund but then said the cheques were just put on his table. Therefore, if Golkar Party wants to maintain its existence, it should not maintain Akbar and should just let him go.

It is indeed the issue (to oust Akbar) that has led to the internal conflict within Golkar members. What I smell here behind the Buloggate II case, therefore, is a fighting for the party's highest post among Golkar members.

So what's really behind the rejection of a special committee of the House to look into the case?

It just tells us that the difference between Buloggate I and Buloggate II was that the fund involved in Buloggate II was distributed more evenly than that of Buloggate I. Just consider this. Why are two different people (former president Abdurrahman Wahid and Akbar) involved in the same case, treated differently? There is only one answer: Many politicians in Jakarta enjoyed the money (from Buloggate II). It's tragic.

How should Megawati's government deal with the case?

To show that the government upholds the law, Megawati should command her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to support the establishment of the House's special committee.

The two, almost simultaneous, cases of Tommy's arrest and Buloggate II, if well managed, would be a plus-plus, point for Megawati's' government. They would be good capital for the 2004 election. Otherwise, it would be just a suicide action for her.

Megawati's stern action on upholding the law is being tested this time and people are waiting for her act.

So what about the possible withdrawal of Golkar's support?

Don't be afraid of such a threat. There are many good and qualified cadres of the nation outside Golkar. Such a threat will have no effect on the government. This is a presidential cabinet. The only possible thing that could happen should Golkar withdraw its political support is the emergence of a new opposition in the House.

Hence there would be two opposition forces, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Golkar. Theoretically, this would be even beneficial for the government, as the two parties would be controlling each other, and their control over the government would be weaker. The executive would have more space to work.

Besides, Megawati should also remember that her government only has two years left. There would not be a significant difference, with or without Golkar's cadres in her government. There is not much to be done within the remaining years. But, with strict action against Akbar Tandjung and Tommy Soeharto, she would gain an extraordinary political point.

What about the possibility of a coalition between PKB and Golkar that could disturb Megawati's government?

I don't think there is such a possibility. PKB won't easily forget how Golkar led the effort to topple Gus Dur (Aburrahman) from the presidency.

Back to the Buloggate II case, do you see any possibility that the money was used by Golkar?

Of course, I can see such a possibility, especially if we could reveal that (Buloggate suspect) Dadang Ruskandar was a Golkar cadre. Then there would be a strong indication that Golkar used the money. Then the Supreme Court would have the authority to decide whether Golkar has to be dissolved.

Dissolving Golkar may be too late. Besides, it would be difficult to dissolve such a big party, the second biggest in the country. The Supreme Court could just punish the party and ban it from joining the coming election.