Ministers offended?

Ministers offended?

Bambang Warih Koesoemo has been dismissed as a member of the
House of Representatives purportedly because he sinned against
cabinet ministers. The statements and remarks made by this
representative of the people who hails from East Java were
regarded by Golkar, the organization to which he belongs, as
having offended the feelings of four cabinet ministers.

The press statement issued by the chairman of the Karya
Pembangunan (Golkar) faction, Moestahid Astari, does not make it
quite clear how Golkar knew that the ministers were offended.
Common sense, however, would make us believe that the ministers
in question had complained to Golkar concerning Bambang's
conduct, although according to the Minister of Industry Tunky
Ariwibowo he did not feel affronted.

Not all members of the House of Representatives are good at
using euphemisms. The exercise of tact in asking questions may or
may not be effective. It would be effective if the ministers
concerned are able to grasp the hidden message. It would not be
effective if, due to the wish to be polite, the substance
contained in the question or remark becomes unclear for both the
questioner and the questioned.

Moreover, the question of decorum in a House Commission
meeting is the responsibility of the chairman. The chairman has
the right to admonish a member who is regarded as impolite and
cabinet ministers have the right to convey to him their objection
to the manner of asking and to the content of any question made.

The Golkar leadership is well advised to give a more plausible
explanation of the case. We do not want Bambang's removal to
cause House members to refrain from asking questions because they
are afraid to offend cabinet ministers.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta