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.