MPR professionalism
MPR professionalism
From Sinar Pagi
A newspaper reported on April 29 communications expert Prof. Barita Siregar as saying, "To topple Gus Dur's Cabinet is constitutionally a high-risk action. It will be the destruction of the trust in democracy". President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet, formed by a compromise of big political parties, started with a number of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) products as a result of the general election on June 7, 1999. The Cabinet has high legitimacy but many things have been overlooked by those at the top of the administration of the President, better known as Gus Dur.
The conduct of the leader of the Cabinet is subject to the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. It is determined by MPR Decree No.IV/MPR/1999 on the state guidelines for 1999-2004. In reality, a number of controversial statements gave rise to disquiet among the public, including some members of Gus Dur's Cabinet itself. It has tended to destroy the mandate from the people/MPR, meaning the destruction of the democratic system itself.
During the New Order regime the country's highest institution, the MPR, was under the command of the executive. Accountability sessions held every five years always took the side of the regime in power during 32 years. Now in the reform era, the evaluation is carried out every year. There is the demand for the MPR to yield positive things for the nation, different from the performance every five years in past eras.
The highest authority is in the hands of the MPR. This Assembly determines the Constitution and the state guidelines. It appoints the head of state (president) and the deputy head of state (vice president). It is the Assembly that holds the highest state authority while the President is obliged to carry out state policies according to guidelines laid down by the Assembly. A heavy first test for the MPR will be the general session next August. Let's hope the Assembly will be successful and more professional compared to past ones.
SUNGKOWO SOKAWERA
Bandung