Megawati told to address the nation
Megawati told to address the nation
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais called on President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday to address the nation, instead of her supporters in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), on the problems facing the country.
Amien, who also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), said Megawati was the country's President and no longer belonged to a certain group only.
"The loyalty to a party ends where the loyalty to the country begins," Amien told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on religion, democracy and minority groups.
"So, it is not proper to address national problems such as the street rallies protesting the utility price hikes through a party forum," he added.
Should Megawati want to improve her performance, she could start by giving a monthly press conference in her capacity as the Indonesian President, Amien said.
Amien was commenting on a political speech delivered by Megawati in her capacity as the PDI Perjuangan chairwoman at a ceremony marking the party's anniversary on Tuesday. Then she lashed out at the media and her critics for blowing out of proportion the recent nationwide antigovernment rallies.
Previously in Bali, Megawati had also addressed her PDI Perjuangan followers during another ceremony marking the party's anniversary on her government's policy to increase utility prices. It was her first official statement regarding the government's unpopular policy thus far.
Amien also asked Megawati to stop blaming the media for the continuing antigovernment protests.
He suggested that Megawati realize the current wave of protests was triggered by the public's dissatisfaction with the government's policy of raising utility prices.
"She (Megawati) is exaggerating," Amien said.
According to Amien, Megawati and her aides were wrong in concluding that the ongoing rallies were aimed at toppling the government.
However, he could understand that Megawati was nervous on seeing students, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), mothers and businessmen all united in protesting her utility price hike policy.
"It's now up to Megawati as the rallies were sparked by the government's importune policy of raising utility prices," he said.
Separately, House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said that citizens were allowed to criticize the government as well as to seek solutions to the nation's problems.
But Akbar said that criticism and protests should not be transformed into attempts to overthrow the government.
He shared Megawati's view that all issues relating to the presidential succession had to be undertaken through constitutional mechanisms, namely general elections.
"I think she (Megawati) is showing political transparency," Akbar added.
Meanwhile, Rodjil Ghufron, who chairs the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction in the House, said that Megawati's speech before her supporters was a reflection of her decreasing self- confidence ahead of the general election.
"Megawati is trying to revive the nostalgia of being hailed by those people who have currently changed their minds because her policies have greatly burdened them," Rodjil said.
Commenting on Megawati's criticism of the media, Rodjil said that it reflected her unwillingness to speak and explain her policies to the people.