Government overly casual, uncoordinated, legislators say

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)