Legislators dismissed in reorganization: Observers
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said on Tuesday that the ruling political organization Golkar's decision to dismiss 36 legislators from the House of Representatives (DPR) and five legislators from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was part of the organization's short term-strategy to secure the Assembly's extraordinary session in November.
Indria Semego, a political researcher at the National Institute of Science (LIPI), and J. Kristiadi, a political analyst at the Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS), said Golkar wanted to play safe in the upcoming session.
"The dismissal of former cabinet ministers who no longer support Golkar will help reduce Golkar's difficulties in the extraordinary session of the MPR in November," Indria told The Jakarta Post by telephone.
"Legislators like Siswono Yudhohusodo and Sarwono Kusumaatmadja have no selling point for Golkar at all."
"They will even influence people not to vote for Golkar in next year's general election," he said. Siswono, a former minister of transmigration and Sarwono, a former state minister of environment, have repeatedly criticized Golkar on a range of issues and have said it is not a democratic organization.
Indria, also a researcher at the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES), said the dismissal of the legislators could be construed as an attempt by the ruling political organization to show it was committed to reform and regeneration.
"I think Golkar wants to show that cabinet ministers should not sit in the Assembly and give younger cadres the opportunity to prove their capability." he said.
Kristiadi said the dismissals could not be looked at separately from President B.J. Habibie's efforts to maintain his power.
"It's part of Habibie's attempts to maintain his presidency," he told the Post separately.
He said the decision to remove the legislators, most of whom are serving and former Cabinet ministers, would condemn Golkar to its lowest ever showing in next year's general election.
"The active and former cabinet members were replaced by new and unfamiliar faces who do not know Golkar well," he said.
"In the end, Golkar will only be capable of securing a maximum of 10 percent of the overall votes in next year's general election," he said.
The decision to dismiss the 41 legislators was stipulated in a decree issued by the Golkar executive board on Oct. 9, 1998. The decree was signed by chairman Akbar Tandjung and secretary- general Tuswandi.
Included on the list were State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng, who was replaced by Muhammad Said; Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan, replaced by Iwan Dermawan; and Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono, replaced by H.A.T. Soegito.
Also included were former minister/state secretary Moerdiono, replaced by A.B. Bayupathy; former minister of cooperatives and small enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya, replaced by Moh. Sidi T. Idris; former minister of manpower Abdul Latief, replaced by Nurhajati Hakim, former minister of state administrative reforms T.B. Silalahi, replaced by Nathanael Natonius Maidepa; and former minister of tourism, post, and telecommunications Joop Ave, who was replaced by Leonard Tomasoa.
Commenting on the legislators' dismissal, Akbar Tandjung said the decision was a "natural" move and part of the organization's policies.
"We need to regenerate our cadres. There are lots of Golkar cadres who need to be given an opportunity," Akbar said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday.
Asked about his decision to maintain former minister of defense Edi Sudradjat's legislative membership, Akbar said Edi was still needed by Golkar.
"We have not replaced pak Edi because we expect him to become a member of Golkar's board of advisors," he said, adding that those dismissed had been informed prior to the announcement being made.
Golkar's deputy chairman Abdul Gafur said the legislators' dismissal would not be a serious problem because Golkar had many potential good cadres.
"We still have a lot of cadres who are loyal to the organization," he told the press, adding that the decision to introduce some younger blood had been taken at Golkar's extraordinary congress in July. (imn)