Golkar's empty bluff

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