Harmoko pins high hope on upcoming election

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the House of Representatives/ People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) Harmoko pinned high hopes on Monday on the upcoming general election to bring improvements for the nation.

He said he believed the elections, scheduled for between May and June next year, could be a new beginning for the nation in handling the problems it was currently facing.

"Through the general session of the MPR established after the poll, we could even lay the groundwork for a national life that reflects more the spirit of the people's sovereignty, in which we will also see a limited presidential term," he said.

Harmoko was making his remarks in an address at the MPR/DPR building to commemorate the institution's 53rd anniversary.

He called on all MPR/DPR members to prepare for the upcoming Nov. 10/Nov. 14 MPR special session. One of the main agenda items will be to reset the election date from 2002 -- as agreed by the MPR during former president Soeharto's regime -- to 1999, as President B.J. Habibie has promised.

The special session has also been earmarked to revise all "MPR products" related to general elections, Harmoko said.

With the revisions, Indonesia would not only see an earlier election, but also "change more quickly the existing political system so it can become more acceptable to the people," he said.

Regarding some people's calls that the MPR limit the presidential term, Harmoko said it was urgent since without such a move the centralization of power was more likely to recur.

Too centralized power meant a greater likelihood that the notion of people's sovereignty would be trampled on, said Harmoko who, when a minister under Soeharto, often dismissed such a motion.

The nation should learn from its 53 years of independence about the importance of an administration being committed to democracy, justice and people's welfare, he said.

In the past, the power of the government tended to become absolute and authoritarian especially when the executive ignored criticism, suggestions and supervision from the legislature, social institutions and other supervisory agencies, he said.

"So, we see the upcoming MPR special session as crucial, since it will become a beginning for more fundamental reform by the poll-produced MPR," he said.

Harmoko, three-time minister of information under Soeharto, said the government must be committed to democratization.

To show its commitment, he said, the government must promote openness and be receptive to suggestions, criticism and supervision.

He concluded that the "executive-heavy" kind of state must no longer be promoted in Indonesia since it had brought the nation to its lowest ebb. (aan)