Golkar, FUG say govt slow, weak
Golkar, FUG say govt slow, weak
Ahmad Junaidi and Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Golkar Party faction and the Interest Groups faction (FUG)
at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) criticized on Friday
the government under President Megawati Soekarnoputri as weak and
slow in handling several problems in the country.
In its commentary to Megawati's Thursday report to the
Assembly, Golkar accused the government of discrimination in its
efforts to eradicate corruption and collusion.
"The government is slow and not serious in handling certain
cases, such as the case concerning Bank Indonesia liquidity
support (BLBI) funds," Golkar faction spokesman Agun Gunandjar
Sudarsa said in a plenary session.
The BLBI case centers around Rp 144.5 trillion of liquidity
support funds given by the central bank to 48 banks to help them
withstand massive bank runs in the wake of economy crisis in
1997-1998.
Results from a State Audit Agency (BPK) investigation showed
that Rp 138.5 trillion of the support funds had been misused by
the banks.
On a more positive note, Agun said his faction appreciated the
government's effort to propose several bills aimed at eradicating
corruption and collusion.
The FUG shared Golkar's view, saying the government was slow
in producing results.
"Megawati's administration has been working for a year but has
yet to make significant achievements," FUG spokesman Said Agil
Siradj said.
Friday's session, in which the factions delivered their
commentaries to the government's progress report, was attended by
Megawati, Vice President Hamzah Haz, House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung, State Audit Agency chairman Satrio B.
Joedono, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan and several
Cabinet ministers.
Said, who is also an executive of the country's largest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama, said his faction noted the
government's uncertainty in dealing with conflict in Aceh, Maluku
and Papua.
The FUG also noted rampant crimes such as smuggling, drug
abuse and fake money circulation. The latter is believed to
involve certain state officials, he said.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
faction, meanwhile, was full of praise for Megawati, who is also
leader of the party.
PDI Perjuangan defended the government for its efforts to
uphold the law and to find solutions to various conflicts.
PDI Perjuangan, Golkar and FUG, with 179 legislators, 146
legislators and 63 legislators at the MPR respectively, were
given the first opportunity to deliver their views on the
government's past performance, while the smaller factions will
deliver their views on Saturday.
Also on Friday, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
joined the chorus of criticism.
On legal affairs, the National Consortium for Legal Reform
(KRHN) maintained that law enforcement under Megawati's
administration had been very much clouded with political
bargaining and vested interests.
"The law is being abused and reduced into a power instrument
to intimidate and for short-term interests," Firmansyah Arifin,
coordinator of KRHN, stated in a release distributed at the
legislative building.
The government has yet to fully carry out the principle of
equality before the law and law for justice, he added.
Firmansyah cited several cases, including the high-profile
BLBI case.
Another NGO, the Working Committee for Agrarian Reform (PA-
PSDA), criticized the government's ignorance of environmental
issues.
PA-PSDA questioned the President's failure to mention the
implementation of MPR Decree No. IX/MPR/2001 on agrarian reform
and natural resources management.
The decree, which was approved at the Assembly's 2001 Annual
Session, aims at addressing the exploitation of natural resources
that has caused environmental destruction.
PA-PSDA demanded the government establish a special committee
to follow up on the decree. The committee will be tasked with
preparing a working plan for restructuring land reform, settling
land disputes and reviewing the Agrarian Law as mandated in the
decree.