PDI Perjuangan warns Gus Dur over delegitimation

PDI Perjuangan warns Gus Dur over delegitimation

JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid's controversial leadership
style is causing consternation in political circles with the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on
Wednesday warning of delegitimation if the president does not
curb his confusing manner.

PDI Perjuangan Deputy Secretary General Promono Anung said
frequent controversial statements and policies made by the
president have increased the potential for social unrest and
public dissidence.

"If the president does not make changes to the way he leads
the nation, he will face a serious leadership crisis and his
government will undergo a deeper process of delegitimation," he
told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday.

Promono said that the issue became the main topic of
discussions in Tuesday's meeting of senior PDI Perjuangan
officials. Among those present during the meeting were Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for
Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie, Minister of
Agriculture M. Prakosa and former minister of empowerment of
state enterprises Laksamana Sukardi.

Promono said the party was disappointed with many of the
President's recent decisions including the allegations of
nepotism as the reason for Laksamana's dismissal.

He said the party would support Laksamana if he filed a suit
against the President over his firing.

He added that party executives also questioned the reason for
the appointment of Rizal Ramli as new logistics agency chief and
Dipo Alam as an assistant to the coordinating minister for
finance, investment and economy.

The appointment of Dipo and Rizal to monitor Kwik's work,
according to Promono, places Kwik in a negative light, as if he
is no longer trusted.

"It has put Kwik in a difficult position in trying to do his
job freely," he said.

Separately, Arifin Panigoro, chairman of PDI Prejuangan
faction at the House of Representatives said Abdurrahman should
not exploit his prerogatives to sack his ministers arbitrarily
since the cabinet was formed on the basis of power sharing.

Separately political scientist Riswandha Imawan from Gadjah
Mada University in Yogyakarta, said on Wednesday that the
President should conduct a "cleansing" to weed out individuals
who exploit his trust and physical handicaps.

"The President must take a firm attitude on this urgent
problem, otherwise the government will collapse before 2004," he
said, adding that it must be done before the general session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August.

Riswandha remarked that there was enough evidence to support
mounting accusations of growing cronyism, including the
appointment of Abdurrahman's brother, Hasyim Wahid, as a special
expert to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency.

"Those people around the President continuously make a fool of
him with their inaccurate information," he said, identifying the
people as those who have direct access, such as close friends
from the community of non-governmental organizations.

"Gus Dur himself, with his physical condition, can't recheck
any written documents," he added.

Riswandha proposed the MPR form a special committee to watch
over Abdurrahman's confidants if he refuses to personally screen
them.

Meanwhile a close aid to the President defended the
President's actions, including the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Acting State Secretary Bondan Gunawan said on Wednesday in
Bandung that the President has been consistent laying down the
parameters for building a clean and professional government and
that no one is irreplaceable.

"The President has said previously that those who are at
fault, those who cannot fully assist the President's policies or
even those whom he feels are not helping, can be replaced,
including myself," Bondan said. (25/44/rms)