Legislators dissatisfied with President's progress report

Legislators dissatisfied with President's progress report

JAKARTA (JP): Many legislators said they were less than
satisfied with the President's progress report on Monday, saying
it was being too general and lacked depth and factual data.

House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung said the speech lacked any elaboration on concrete
measures taken by the administration.

He described the contents of the speech as a mere
justification for the administration's shortcomings. "The report
was not able to describe concrete things ... It was just a
normative report."

Akbar also criticized the administration's inability to
overcome the country's economic crisis and to end the country's
security difficulties. "Our life is still not safe. There is
still turbulence in the regions although the government says it
has taken action to end the upheavals."

Golkar Party legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan also lamented
the lack of detail in the progress report. "We need numbers, not
only qualitative statements, because it's supposed to be a
progress report."

The report itself was to be accompanied by an appendix,
however as of late on Monday none was forthcoming. Presidential
officials said the appendix would be coming "soon".

Legislator Jacob Tobing from the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) remarked that the report not only
was uninformative, but was merely a description of the problems
faced by the country.

"The report did not mention any managerial mistakes inside the
administration," Jacob said.

However, he underlined that this would not result in the
President being impeached.

"We will make it clear during this Annual Session that for our
party it is important that a fixed five-year term for the
legitimate President increase the quality of our democratization
process," he said.

Another PDI Perjuangan legislator, Zulvan Lindan, said
legislators could not evaluate the progress report because it was
too general.

"It's difficult to grab the substance of the speech because it
was too general. We cannot understand what the main point of the
President's explanations was," Zulvan said.

Legislator Rusydi Hamka from the United Development Party
(PPP) remarked: "It seems the President was only saying that the
nation is facing difficult problems. We agreed with that, but we
doubt he can resolve the problems."

Hatta Radjasa from the National Awakening Party (PAN)
described the speech as mere rhetoric. "The speech was rhetoric.
The problem does not lie in whether we will accept the report or
not, but we want a concrete report from the President."

The only legislators who seemed satisfied with the progress
report were from the National Awakening Party (PKB), the party
which Abdurrahman helped establish.

"The administration has shown its achievements, such as
economic growth, low inflation and so on," PKB legislator
Taufiqurrahman Saleh said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said the most
important thing was that the report gave a new sense of direction
and coherence in running the government.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman claimed the speech was well
received because it provided clear signals to legislators that
the President was open to criticism.

"I think the main point is that he is open to criticism and
expects suggestions to make corrections. I think the speech was
well received," Marzuki said. (dja/nvn/prb/jun/rms)