Golkar bobs and weaves but foes ready for a long fight

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Golkar Party politicians vowed on Friday to intensify their efforts to block a move to set up a House of Representatives' committee of inquiry to probe party chief Akbar Tandjung's alleged involvement in a Rp 40 billion financial scandal.

Golkar members rejected the proposal and suggested that the nation should wait for the outcome of the investigation currently being carried out by the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

"Let's wait for the legal process," said Golkar legislator Evita Asmaralda at the House building here on Friday.

Fellow Golkar member Hajriyanto Y. Thohari said lobbying of other factions had resulted in a common understanding with those factions.

Hajriyanto refused, however, to name the factions that would back Golkar's stance.

The maneuver to block the setting up of the House committee of inquiry was initiated by Akbar himself on Oct. 23. Soon after hearing a proposal from 50 legislators that an inquiry be established, Akbar met Taufik Kiemas, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband and a key figure in the largest faction, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Akbar was seeking the support of Taufik, hoping that PDI Perjuangan would not back the proposal. Later, it was learned that the largest faction in the House was split over the issue.

When the House's steering committee accepted the proposal for further deliberation, Golkar promptly changed tack.

At meetings of the steering committee on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28, Golkar tried to foil the proposal by pursuing protracted negotiations with the other factions.

At the second meeting, the Golkar lawmakers also employed a filibuster by steering the issue away from a possible investigation through a lengthy debate on the interpretation of the new House internal regulations as regards steering committee membership.

Golkar legislators argued that there were significant differences between the old and the new House regulations, which came into effect on Oct. 16.

Responding to this strategy, Ali Masykur Musa from the National Awakening Party (PKB), who had spearheaded the proposal, said that Golkar was an expert at this kind of tactic.

Ali confirmed that during all the meetings of the steering committee, Golkar legislators spoke at extreme length. "We know that strategy, but we must be patient. All struggle needs patience," he said.

A steering committee staffer, who requested anonymity, confirmed that Golkar legislators had spent most of the time debating.

Golkar is fighting tooth and nail to prevent the setting up of the committee as it could harm Akbar's position as House Speaker.

In the short term, it could also endanger the existence of Golkar, which was widely considered to be the backbone of Soeharto's corrupt regime.

Golkar tricks of the trade Oct. 23: Akbar meets Taufik Kiemas, asking for help to block inquiry Nov. 22: No copies of proposal. Talks adjourned to Nov. 28 Nov.28: Golkar turns talks into endless debate on technicalities. Talks adjourned to Dec.6 Dec.6: Golkar refuses to put proposal on plenary agenda. Talks put back to Dec. 10