PAN ready for coalition with 'reformed' Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais said on Sunday that his party was ready to enter into a coalition with Golkar, provided the ruling political organization "reformed" and repented of its past wrongdoings.

"Whether Golkar is willing to repent is another question," Amien was quoted by Antara as saying after inaugurating his party's West Sumatra branch.

He said his party's willingness to entertain the idea of a coalition stemmed from Islamic teachings which hold that a group or individuals that have repented should not be shunned.

"If PAN was to enter into a coalition with Golkar, which for 32 years dominated political life in Indonesia, Golkar should first repent of its past wrongdoings," Amien said.

Golkar, he added, would have to adopt a "reformed" spirit and support efforts to introduce greater democracy.

Golkar has received criticism, including from within its own ranks, for its unwillingness to bow to demands for it to issue a public apology for its past mistakes.

Joining any coalition is permissible, provided the agreement is compatible with Islamic teachings which hold that one should work for goodness and piety, and not to create animosity and encourage sin, the former chairman of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization, said.

One of Golkar's major past wrongdoings, Amien said, was to state that "election results were available two months before elections were held."

He added that the PAN had proposed forming a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Perjuangan under chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri but said Megawati had not given a clear response to his advances.

Amien said that his party supports the government's decision to give into the House of Representatives' demands and retain a system of proportional representation in next year's election.

"Frankly, a proportional system would benefit us, while a district system would be too complicated," he said. (anr/28)