Internal ordeal
Internal ordeal
From Rakyat Merdeka
Though only a few weeks old, the Cabinet of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), which is the result of a compromise among people's representatives in the House of Representatives and which vows to uphold honesty and justice, is now encountering a very serious internal ordeal. Why? Apart from the protracted crisis, problems have continued to crop up. It seems endless. Nevertheless, the latest immediate urgency is the settlement of problems related to corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) and those connected with injustice because they are the sources of all the calamities befalling the country.
Cases related to KKN must be uncovered. Take for example the allegation that three Cabinet members have been implicated in those vices; culprits who brought about all the miseries to the people. The three ministers allegedly involved in KKN cannot be defended and allowed to remain in the Cabinet because they may contaminate the whole nation.
The people are no longer patient. They want immediate and thorough settlement of problems that brought about the near- collapse of the nation. In the present era of openness, the people are waiting for the disclosure of the names of those implicated in KKN. Do not polemicize this matter. In the present era of reform, the people demand transparency.
Covering up instances of KKN will only create an atmosphere inconducive to economic recovery. Law enforcement agencies and the attorney general will be involved in the probes into cases of KKN and they must be always honest and fair. Although a preliminary probe cannot come up with any evidence, it must be openly announced that all the charges are correct.
The people lost their trust in the government a long time ago. The present Cabinet has the task of restoring people's confidence in the government. If a minister is implicated in KKN, Gus Dur should not hesitate to use his right to fire him.
Of course, great care must be taken in firing officials allegedly involved in KKN. However, once the government is free from personnel involved in KKN, people will again have confidence in their government.
HERLINA
Jakarta