No-confidence motion against Arifin baseless: Legislator

JAKARTA (JP): Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an outspoken legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), deplores a motion of no confidence being pushed forward by many members of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the House of Representatives against Arifin Panigoro.

He described the move as baseless.

"I don't see any rational and substantial reasons for my fellow legislators to call for the no confidence motion. The party's executive board is expected to turn down it," he told The Jakarta Post here on Friday.

He said the executive board's decision would depend not on the number of members supporting the motion but on the reasons behind it.

Reliable sources at the faction said many members were disgruntled at Arifin's chairmanship of the faction because of his bad temperament and close links with Ginandjar Kartasasmita, a Golkar Party figure who played an important role in former president Soeharto's Cabinets during the New Order era.

Aberson said that up to Friday evening, the number of legislators who had given their support to the motion reached more than 80. He said he would not participate in the motion.

"Objectively, Arifin's leadership of the faction is far better than his predecessor, Dimyati Hartono. He is open to all (faction) members, problems and criticism. He always presides over faction meetings and has never made any decision by himself," he said.

Asked to comment on his close relationship with Golkar figures, including Ginandjar, Aberson said it was normal for a legislator, and even for Arifin, because besides being chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction, he was also a businessman.

"The leadership of a political party is not a matter of like and dislike or old members and newcomers. Of most importance is that he is committed to sharing PDI Perjuangan's struggle and vision. And so far, his close links with Golkar figures has not influenced party policy," he said. (rms)