Following whatever Gus Dur says

Following whatever Gus Dur says

As a comment on responses by a number of factions in the House
of Representatives (DPR) to the President answers to the
interpellation on July 20, 2000, as widely reported in the media,
the writer very much deplores the responses given by members of
the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, including that given
by its general chairman Mr. H. Matori Jalil. They gave the
impression that they simply wanted to give a response different
from that voiced by other factions. What was out of place was
that PKB faction members single-mindedly brushed aside decency
and statesmanship, holding fast to the principle of "whatever the
President says will be also what PKB will say".

As a mater of fact the general public would like to hear
President Abdurrahman Wahid's honest responses because his
allegations that Yusuf Kalla and Laksamana Sukardi were involved
in collusion, nepotism and corruption is circumstantial.

It is feared that this single-minded attitude, ignoring sound,
just and honest norms, has influenced the President, Gus Dur, as
he popularly called, in responding to the interpellation.

Just like everybody else in the community the writer craves to
see a peaceful atmosphere following an appropriate response by
Gus Dur to the House members' interpellation. Therefore, the
writer was very disappointed when Gus Dur demonstrated an
arrogant attitude, construed by many as belittling the House,
when answering the interpellation.

Furthermore, it is feared that Gus Dur's response will give
rise to other problems. It is a pity that Gus Dur has made
mountains of molehills just because he fell short of magnanimity.
He might not have realized that being magnanimous would be in the
interests of the people.

Gus Dur has once again thrown away a golden opportunity to
rectify his negligence. He has instead wasted his legitimacy.
Therefore, if it should happen that he does not make it to 2004,
the final year of his term of office, his own actions will have
been responsible and not any connivance of the DPR or the
People's Consultative Assembly. In other words, Gus Dur will have
stumbled over pebbles that he himself has uncontrollably thrown.

Therefore, the writer calls upon the leaders and members of
the PKB faction to introspect and put the interest of the people
above selfish agendas. Dumping of the party arrogance is the only
way to support the establishment of an atmosphere conducive to
peace among the political elite and later among the people.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta