Ministers in MPR

Ministers in MPR

In this current age of reform, politicians are judged by their
sensitivity toward efforts to introduce a greater degree of
democracy in the country.

In relation to this, there have recently been calls for a more
democratic system within the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), the country's highest constitutional body. At issue are
the working practices of the ruling Golkar group -- a group long
notorious for its stubborn reluctance to acquiesce to any calls
for greater democratic freedom. Golkar has been challenged to
withdraw the five serving cabinet ministers in its ranks who sit
on the assembly's Working Committee. The committee is in charge
of preparing the agenda for MPR sessions, and through this
responsibility can exercise control over all major decisions
taken regarding the future of this country.

The inclusion of the ministers on the committee is nothing
short of interference with the legislative body on the part of
the executive branch of government. By any standards, this turns
all democratic values upside down.

This state of affairs has long existed against the backdrop of
Soeharto's authoritarian regime. During his rule, the despot
handpicked the majority of Assembly members. In return, their
sole responsibility was to convene in assembly once every five
years to rubber stamp his rule and endorse the government-
sponsored State Policy Guidelines.

Lovers of drama must surely have seen a touch of comic irony
in the events which unfolded in May, when Soeharto's loyal band
of professional politicians pushed him aside after having
reelected him a mere two months earlier. They called their show a
democracy, but anyway, what is there in a name?

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who is also Minister/State
Secretary, has said that ministers are still needed on the MPR
Working Committee because many of them are members of Golkar's
executive board.

We are sorry that through this demonstration of political
egotism he has shown himself willing to sacrifice the nation's
system of governance for the sake of the interests of a single
group. But to be thankful for small mercies, at least Minister of
Food A.M. Saefuddin and Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz see
that the Golkar way of thinking will not be of benefit to the
nation. Saefuddin was quoted by Merdeka as saying that the
presence of ministers on the MPR Working Committee was anathema
to the aspirations of the people, who are united in their desire
for political reform.

Saefuddin said that it is impossible for a minister who is
also a member of the MPR to censure the head of state, who is, of
course, the person who appointed he or she to the Cabinet.

Saefuddin's logic is understandable. If Golkar or any other
faction retain ministers in the MPR, which is set to convene an
extraordinary session in November, it will be very difficult to
call the legislative body a democratic institution.

Unfortunately the two ministers, both of whom commendably
resigned from the MPR, are members of the minority United
Development Party (PPP). The disarray which broke out in the
PPP's ranks following the party's poor performance in the MPR's
March session makes it difficult for Golkar to follow its example
on grounds of honor alone.

But in any case, we would still like to remind the ruling
group that although there is no rule against a cabinet minister
serving in the MPR, every man on the street knows full well that
the division of power among the branches of government is an
essential characteristic of every democracy. As is a
representation in the MPR that has been elected in its entirety
by the people of this country.