Golkar should disband itself

Golkar should disband itself

From Rakyat Merdeka

Rakyat Merdeka reported on Oct. 4 that the secretary of a faction of the Functional Group (Golkar) Party at the People's Consultative Assembly, Rambe Kamarulzaman, suggested during a recent routine meeting of the party that the name and logo of the banyan tree be replaced as it might give an impression of eeriness, perhaps like something haunted.

I hold, however, that the name and logo need not be replaced as it is more fitting for this party to disband itself. Although the party changes its name and logo a thousand times, the community will still abhor it as long as the executive board lineup is the same. Golkar must never dream of scoring success in the 2004 general election. It is very likely that its percentage of the vote will decline.

I suggest that those on the party's executive board should sit back, relax and enjoy what they amassed during the New Order era. If any of them should still be interested in joining political activities, they should join reformist parties and start taking into consideration the fate of the people in lower segments of society.

Or choose a nobler way by setting up a charity foundation to help the poor across the country. This seems to be a better choice compared with remaining in the political arena but being abhorred by the people, particularly university students. It is now time for Golkar to win the sympathy of the people by earnestly doing things in their interest so that they may welcome the party back and allow it a place like what it used to assume during the heyday of the New Order.

H. SUWARDI

Jakarta