Government overly casual, uncoordinated, legislators say
JAKARTA (JP): Overly casual and uncoordinated were the impressions of senior House of Representatives members and observers of President Abdurrahman Wahid's first 100 days in office.
House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung specifically highlighted a lack of coordination within the cabinet and a haphazard response to regional problems as things the government should strive to improve.
He urged the President to prepare a precise outline of objectives and a job description for each cabinet member to improve coordination.
Akbar acknowledged that it is unfair to harshly judge a 100- day government, but he remarked that these weaknesses, if not quickly addressed, could hamper the government's work in the immediate future.
Akbar, also chairman of the Golkar Party, pointed to the government's failure to sufficiently deal with rising tensions in various provinces, specifically Aceh and Maluku.
"His (Abdurrahman's) measures to settle urgent situations including cases in Aceh and Ambon are not effective," Akbar remarked.
Abdurrahman was elected the country's fourth president on Oct. 20, while Megawati Soekarnoputri, his rival in the presidential election, became vice president.
While he has shown a strong commitment to repairing freedoms, curdled during the New Order era, many observers have complained that the new government is disorganized with no clear concept of how to resolve national problems.
Abdurrahman, himself, did not seem to hold much faith in his cabinet when he announced the lineup: "this is the best we could come up with". He has often described the composition of the cabinet as a result of horse-trading.
A month after the cabinet was formed it was immediately embroiled in controversy with the departure of the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), Hamzah Haz, who was coordinating minister for people's welfare.
A.M. Fatwa and Hartono Mardjono, deputies to the House speaker, also reproached the government for its lack of clear programs.
They described the current government as a one-man show with the President the only one having a clue to what is going on.
Fatwa said Abdurrahman, in his first 100 days, was busy making statements but neglected to consolidate his cabinet and setup concrete programs.
Hartono said the cabinet seemed confused as they have no clear program. He regarded this as a consequence of the fragile relations between the President and certain factions within the military.
Akbar, who held several cabinet posts under former presidents Soeharto and B.J. Habibie, also reproached Abdurrahman's numerous, extensive trips overseas.
He particluerly critizied this week's planned 16-day departure to 13 countries.
"The visit is too long, and our domestic problems are no less important," said Akbar.
Abdurrahman is scheduled to depart to Saudi Arabia on Friday and begin a tour which includes Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the Vatican, Switzerland, South Korea and India.
Akbar also lamented that far too often the President seemed happier joking about matters, rather than actually addressing them in the most serious fashion.
The House speaker cautioned the President over his habit of making jokes, saying that inappropriate antics would worsen the situation.
Rizal Ramli, chief of noted economic consulting firm Econit, called on the President to replace Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie because he has so far failed to make any initiative toward defusing the economic crisis.
"A coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry should think most about policy and strategy to repair the economy, but he seems busier digging up and censuring the past," Rizal remarked.
Rizal sarcastically remarked that it would be more appropriate for Kwik to be appointed chief of the Supreme Audit Agency or Attorney General since he seems to enjoy prying into the past so much. (rms/prb)