Golkar's empty bluff

The forming of a special committee is finally on the agenda of the Consultative Body (Bamus) of the House of Representatives (DPR). This indicates a progressive step toward unraveling the alleged misuse of non-budgetary funds belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). But it does not mean that we can relax our vigil.

A group of Golkar Party members seems busy arranging tactics so that this special committee on the "Bulog II scandal" can never be formed. Following the ineffective lobbying in closed rooms, various threatening statements were then uttered by them.

A number of parties changed their stance, probably due to threats of revealing certain names who had received some of the funds. At least the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) now firmly reject the formation of the committee, while on the other hand, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) are challenging the Golkar Party to reveal names, if they really exist. Until now the Golkar Party's threats have been merely empty bluffs, as no new names of recipients have emerged.

What has emerged in fact is another disguised threat. Several Golkar Party figures are said to have stated that they would leave Megawati's coalition government if the forming of the committee is not discontinued. This means, though not explicitly mentioned, that Golkar is preparing to build a new coalition to create a new government.

It is only fitting for President Megawati to respond to the threats with a firm challenge: "Go ahead, make my day!" The resignation of the Golkar Party would most probably strengthen Megawati's image as a reformist who intends to eradicate all forms of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN). On the other hand, the Golkar Party would have a tarnished image as a collection of former fighters intending to hide their KKN sins.

This is based on the assumption that the Golkar Party dares to carry out its threats, because it is highly likely that this party, comprising the New Order regime, would suffer more internal splits: Between the old faces who intend to use the party as a political shield in hiding their past sins and the younger generation who really wish to reform the party that has a banyan tree symbol.

As an important reformist figure, President Megawati is obliged to help the emergence of reformist leaders in the Golkar Party. The reason is that the party's platform is not that bad, as its ideology is not much different from that of the PDI Perjuangan. It was precisely the disloyalty of its leaders to the platform that caused the New Order government to deteriorate.

Today the opportunity is available to put the Golkar Party on the right track. President Megawati has to take maximum advantage of this opportunity. The wise ancient Greek elders called it "Carpe diem Megawati."

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta