House forced to vote on speaker

JAKARTA (JP): The new House of Representative was forced to vote to elect its speaker on Tuesday following an acrimonious debate over technicalities.

The debate, which went beyond midnight, surfaced when Crescent Star Party (PBB) legislator Hartono Mardjono protested the result of a consultative meeting which unanimously appointed Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung to the House's top post.

Citing the House's internal rules, Hartono said the decision was not binding because the rules grant individual House legislators the right to vote.

"We must stick to the rules. A decision must be overruled even if a single member objects to it," Hartono said. "Such a consensus could be pregnant with manipulation and no one can be forced to accept it."

He said deliberations to reach a consensus was a legacy of Soeharto's New Order regime, which was no longer compatible with the democratic ideals of the ongoing reform movement.

He protested the election, which was limited to faction representatives instead of involving all House members in attendance.

His objection came just after interim speaker Abdul Madjid praised the result of the consultative meeting attended by representatives of the House's 10 factions.

"I cannot press for House members to accept the consensus, but I warn you that nobody rejected my offer of a deliberation," Madjid, who was named interim speaker because he is the senior member of the House, said.

Golkar acceded to the vote to avoid giving the impression that it had yet to make a break with its past. The party was a faithful supporter of long-time ruler Soeharto, who resigned in May last year following a wave of demonstrations.

"We can accept the vote to show our commitment to reform. It will not hurt our pride if our chairman takes a deputy speaker post," the chief of the Golkar faction in the House, Syamsul Muarif, said.

He regretted the objection, however, after learning that large parties like Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle approved the consensus to appoint Akbar to the speaker's post.

Factions

The new House endorsed earlier on Tuesday 10 factions which comprise political parties, coalitions of political parties and the Indonesian Military/National Police.

Five major parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which has 153 seats in the House, the 120-strong Golkar Party, the 58-strong United Development Party (PPP), the 51-strong National Awakening Party (PKB) and the 13- member Crescent Star Party (PBB) -- and the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB), which has three seats in the House, elected to form their own factions.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice Party (PK), who have 41 seats in the House between them, joined forces in the Reform faction, while eight small nationalist and religious- oriented parties formed the Indonesian Unity and Awakening faction (FKKI). Five Muslim-based parties coalesced in the United People's Sovereignty (FPDU) faction.

The PDI Perjuangan faction named Dimyati Hartono its leader, Golkar picked Syamsul Muarif, PPP appointed Rusydi Hamka, PBB named Ahmad Seomargono, PKB named Muhaimin Iskandar, PDKB opted for Manase Malo, the Reform faction chose Hatta Rajasa, FKKI selected Sutradara Gintings, FPDU appointed Ahmad Satari and the Indonesian Military/National Police faction chose Lt. Gen. Achmad Roestandi.

In the past, the House comprised only three factions, representing political parties which contested the general election plus the military faction.

Only half of the 10 new factions were allowed to contest the post of House speaker. The decision was made after hours of debate which forced back the schedule for the election of the House speaker to around 10 p.m.

Golkar deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf hinted that Akbar Tandjung might seek the presidency or vice presidency after contesting the House speaker post.

"His election as House speaker will not dash his opportunity to run for the vice presidency, or even the presidency," Slamet said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday.

The late Adam Malik was elected House speaker in October 1978 and was named vice president five months later.

"Theoretically, Akbar can still run for another post, for vice president or even president, for example," Slamet said.

The Law on the Composition of Relationships of High State Institutions bars citizens from holding both executive and legislative posts.

Akbar has been named Golkar's candidate for the vice presidency, along with Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who is now a deputy chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, and Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X.

Golkar has made incumbent B.J. Habibie its sole presidential candidate. Party executives will gather next week to evaluate Habibie's candidacy. (05/amd)