Golkar likely to force civil servants into politics
Golkar's attempt to sustain backing from civil servants in elections by allowing them to become executives of political parties under a bill being prepared by the House of Representatives (DPR) has created a controversy. Political analyst Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia discusses this issue.
Question: Golkar wants the bill to allow civil servants to hold executive posts in any political party but the government and the Indonesian Civil Servants Corps (Korpri) have opposed it. Isn't this a sign of a rift?
Arbi: They apparently have different views. On the one hand, Golkar wants Korpri, one of its political machines, to continue using its power to help the former win general elections. But the latter wants to be get rid of any political influence from Golkar and the other parties, so that its members can improve their professionalism in serving the public.
Korpri executives apparently have realized that their organization's loyalty to Golkar in the past three decades has damaged its own image. They, therefore, want to be politically neutral in the future.
Meanwhile, the government's teams of law drafters want to show their idealism in formulating policies and Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, who comes from the military, prefers to look neutral.
Q: What is driving Korpri to withdraw its political support from Golkar?
A: Its executives may have become aware that its loyalty to Golkar has affected the public's interests. If it maintained the loyalty, for example, its personnel working as development planners at government institutions might have to allocate more funds for areas whose residents have supported Golkar than for areas supporting other parties. Also, cheating in the procedures of a general election might reoccur through the abuse of power by village and district heads.
Q: But prohibiting civil servants from becoming party executives is curtailing political rights of citizens, isn't it?
A: It is. But bureaucrats, both civilian and military, have obtained the privilege of controlling bureaucratic power until they enter their pensionable ages. In a democratic country, bureaucrats must choose by either sustaining their bureaucratic positions or becoming executives of political parties. If they take both courses, they have excessive power.
Q: The other three DPR factions -- the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the Armed Forces (ABRI) -- have opposed the bill. Do you think, Golkar will force a vote?
A: It seems so because Golkar, which controls the majority of seats in the DPR, is sure that it will win if it forces its proposal to a vote. Pressure from the public, therefore, is still important to prevent Golkar from forcing through its proposal.
Q: How can ABRI, as a traditional political partner, oppose Golkar in this case?
A: I think it is ABRI's strategy of offering concessions by releasing civil servants from the responsibility of becoming party executives in order that it can sustain its mandatory seats in the DPR.
Q: What do you think the outcome will be?
A: Considering that President B.J. Habibie has a strong ambition to be reelected after next year's general election, he will need strong support from Golkar and his government and, therefore, may give Golkar a means to force through its proposal.
Q: How many seats must Golkar have in the DPR and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) if it wants to dominate both law- making institutions?
A: About 200 seats will be enough for it because its partner, ABRI, is likely to control 55 of the 550 seats to be allocated for the DPR. That number will also be adequate for the MPR, which will comprise DPR members plus 150 group and regional representatives because regional representatives will be elected by the current Golkar-dominated local councils, while groups will be represented by executives who have been appointed by the government.
Q: What measures are open for Golkar to win the coming general election?
A: Being afraid that it will lose some of its supporters after the establishment of the Justice and Unity Party by prominent Golkar figures, Golkar might resort to dishonest political tricks in order to win a majority of votes. Even though it is no longer popular among the people, it still controls its political machines.
In the event that it fails to win the coming general election, it may invite other parties to establish a coalition.
Q: Which parties will be willing to cooperate with Golkar?
A: Its most likely partners are the People's Awakening Party (PKB), which is supported by the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and smaller parties whose orientations are development and welfare.
PKB is the most likely partner because NU's chairman, Abdurrahman Wahid, has shown his flexibility in moving from one political position to another. (riz)