Political clout may hinge on gas price

Political clout may hinge on gas price

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An ojek (motorcycle) driver could not hide his disappointment
with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) over its unexpected
stance to endorse the government's policy of slashing fuel
subsidies and thus jacking up fuel prices.

"I thought we were going for a better life with the PKS, but I
was wrong," he said on Thursday, adding that he was prepared to
join a planned rally against the fuel price increases likely to
take effect on Saturday.

His friend was quick to boast of his choice of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), led by former president
Megawati Soekarnoputri, during the 2004 legislative election.

"Even if life was so-so during Megawati's tenure, we didn't
have to endure fuel (price) rises twice a year," said the fellow
ojek driver.

Late on Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted for fuel
subsidy cuts and fuel price rises. Only the PDI-P faction opposed
the plan, while others, including the PKS, the National Mandate
Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP), approved it.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) walked out and abstained
from the vote, even though its chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur'
Wahid had publicly voiced his opposition against the fuel price
rises.

A number of PDI-P legislators even joined Thursday's mass
rally against fuel price increases in Jakarta to amplify its
opposition stance.

"The public can now see, through the vote, (where we stand on
their interests)," said PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung,
adding that the PDI-P's sustained rejection over the planned
increases was due to the government's failure to offset the
severe impact of the fuel price increases.

"The government could have asked for debt rescheduling or even
cost-cutting measures to ease the burden on the state budget,"
said Pramono. The PDI-P was also against the first fuel price
increase in March this year.

He acknowledged his party might be favorably perceived
by the public in the long-run, but insisted that being the
"darling of the public" was not enough reason to oppose the
increases.

PKS leader Tifatul Sembiring admitted that his Islam-oriented
party was not prepared to take such an unpopular stance, but said
this was a bitter pill the public would have to swallow for a
better future.

"The PKS is very aware of this unpopular stance. Honestly
we're not prepared to take it, but we can no longer fool the
public with cheap fuel, while global prices skyrocket," he
argued.

Tifatul said endorsing the fuel price increases would arguably
harm the PKS' public image, but quickly took a defensive
position.

"We only have 7 percent of the total (550) seats in the House.
Far bigger parties also endorsed the plan. If there's anyone
whose image is ruined, it's the government," he assured.

PKB faction secretary Helmi Faishal said its abstention during
Tuesday's vote was because his party understood the positive as
well as the negative impacts of the fuel price increases.

"In this case, we don't see it as joining the PDI-P or not.
Even if we had joined them, we would've lost anyway. But it's a
more substantial matter," he said.

Political analyst Ikrar Nusa Bakti said the constellation of
political parties had changed a lot, leaving the PDI-P as the
only opposition, particularly as the Cabinet reshuffle was
drawing near.

"The PKB's abstention was to play it safe and avoid anger from
any of its constituents. The PKS must have engaged in political
bargaining with the government so that it changed its stance from
being an opposer to a supporter," he said.

On the PDI-P, Ikrar said the party's opposition could be a
strategy to build its popularity for the 2009 elections,
particularly as it continued to critically assess the Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono government's performance.