Hyperactive legislators

Do people now notice that the House of Representatives (DPR) has become super-active and that it has taken over the role of the conscience of the nation from the students?

This is thanks in part to the controversial role played by President Abdurrahman Wahid in dealing with political issues in his efforts to comply with democratic principles and in what he sees as his prerogatives which must be defended at all cost and by any means.

In the first place, the legislators, notably of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Functional Group (Golkar), United Development Party (PPP) and the reformist faction, as we well know, are questioning the true motives for the dismissal of two ministers (Jusuf Kalla and Laksamana Sukardi) by demanding an explanation under the right of interpellation.

In a political sense Abdurrahman must now say the truth for otherwise it could lead to a vote of censure. Also he must account for his policy of allowing the disappearance of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds by his confidants and the mishandling of a donation from the Sultan of Brunei allegedly to alleviate the suffering of the Aceh people. It should have been allocated with the consent of the House.

The "opposition" members of DPR regard this to be a serious breach of the presidential oath though his supporters in the DPR do not see any violation of the rule.

In another instance, they have even set up an investigation committee on what they claim to be abuse of state funds by the present Speaker of DPR, Akbar Tandjung, when he was minister of housing in the Soeharto cabinet.

Never before has there been such hectic exchanges of accusations between the pro-censure factions and the pro- president group. The President has been requested to appear before the DPR to respond personally to all the questions.

The whole nation is now waiting to see if the cunning Abdurrahman Wahid will be able to satisfy the opposition or invent something to circumvent the truth and rely once again on his huge numbers of followers for moral assistance. In appearance the cleric president will remain unperturbed under political pressure.

But he hid the truth, still worse, if he thinks he can cheat the public again, the bells are indeed ringing for his impeachment.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta