New MPR members sworn in today
New MPR members sworn in today
JAKARTA (JP): Chief Justice Sarwata will today swear in 36 new
members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), including
those chosen to replace the seven relatives of former president
Soeharto recently purged by Golkar.
In a statement made available yesterday, the secretariat-
general of the Assembly said Soeharto's sons Bambang Trihatmodjo
and Hutomo Mandala Putra, daughters Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and
Siti Hediati Prabowo, daughter-in-law Halimah Bambang, half-
brother Probosutedjo and cousin Sudwikatmono would be replaced.
The decision to replace the seven was taken during a
leadership meeting of Golkar presided over by new chairman Akbar
Tandjung on Wednesday night. The move is yet another attempt by
the ruling political organization to consolidate and cleanse
itself from elements of the previous regime.
The Armed Forces (ABRI), United Development Party (PPP) and
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions will also get new
members for the 1997/2002 term.
The Golkar faction will get 19 new members and the PPP will
make 10 new appointments. The PDI and the Armed Forces factions
will get four and three new members respectively.
In the Golkar reshuffle, Machete from East Java replaces
Probosutedjo; Rusydi Zen replaces Halimah; Prof. Machmud Hasyim
replaces Hutomo; and Selamat Limbong replaces Bambang.
Choirijah Nurdjahara will replace Siti Hediati; Wisnu
Suhardono will replace Hardiyanti; and Firman Subagyo will
replace Sudwikatmono.
In the PPP faction, Ahadin Mintaroem will be appointed to
replace Soelaiman; Muzaini Ramli will replace Hadijah Mansyur;
Sa'di Zen Noor will replace Irgan Chairul Mahfiz; Sahruji Tanjung
will replace Darussamin; and Qaimoeddin Thamsy will replace Ramly
Nurhapy.
In PDI faction, Untung Soetomo will be sworn in to replace
Buttu R. Hutapea, who is also the party's secretary general;
Harsoko Soediro will replace Soedariyanto; and F.X. Oerip
Soedjoed will replace Yahya Theo, who has been appointed to the
Supreme Advisory Council.
In the ABRI faction, Col. Ngatminanto replaces Maj. Gen.
Arifin Tarigan; Rear Admiral Soetanto replaces Rear Admiral Gofar
Soewarno; and Maj. Gen. Deddy Sudarmadji takes over from Lt. Gen.
Syarwan Hamid, who was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in May.
Meanwhile, member of ABRI faction Affifudin Thaib said he has
not been informed of his appointment in the board of executives
of the Golkar for the 1998-2003 period.
"Up to now ... I have not yet been officially informed by the
board," he was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.
In its Wednesday meeting, Golkar also decided to appoint
Thaib, rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman and Jojo Kusumo as
deputy chairmen.
Thaib said he had no idea why Golkar chose him, as he was
still an active member of the Armed Forces.
"This is all up to ABRI. I became a member of the House
because I was instructed to. So if I am selected as a member of
Golkar's executive board, it would be up to ABRI (whether I
should accept the position)," he said. (rms)