Politics of corruption to worsen in 2003: Sjahrir

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With the 2004 general election looming, noted economist turned politician, Sjahrir, warned on Friday of worsening corruption and illegal fund-raising in 2003 as political parties scrambled for campaign funds and a positive start to campaigning.

"I would like to say that 2003 will be full of political jockeying," Sjahrir said in a speech presenting the political position and views of the New Indonesian Alliance Party (PIB), which he chairs. "It'll be the year of preparation for the 2004 election. Those currently in power will be devoting all their energy to political maneuvers and pre-campaigns."

Bristling with criticism against the current government, his speech denounced the ongoing reforms as shallow and meaningless.

It is the economy that will suffer from the various political deals, Sjahrir later told The Jakarta Post.

A number of political decisions have come under fire this year already, allegedly favoring the powerful few with money at the expense of public and national interest.

Analysts pointed to the landslide re-election of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, despite overwhelming unpopularity, the botched attempt to suspend House of Representatives' Speaker Akbar Tandjung after he was proven guilty of corruption and open bribery among legislators.

They criticized the House for becoming a forum for power- sharing and horse-trading instead of lawmaking. They accused them of losing touch with very people they are supposed to represent, and not caring about it. The number of laws passed over the year fell well below public expectations and even short of legislators' own promises.

Asked how he expected the situation to be next year, Sjahrir simply said, "worse".

He predicted the economy would come under pressure while parties sought funds to finance their campaigns in 2004. At most risk, he believed, would be the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

"We know where much of the economic sources are held," he said referring to IBRA which still owns trillions of rupiah in state assets it took over from the private sector during the 1997 economic crisis.

University of Indonesia economist M. Ikhsan voiced a similar concern. Fortunately, most of IBRA's precious assets were sold out this year, he added.

He said state-owned companies and institutions like IBRA could turn into cash cows for political interests.

"It's because the seats of their executives or presidents depend on the state (as the shareholder)," he told reporters.

He said privatization would help reduce political interference as private companies become less susceptible to state meddling.

Sjahrir added that pre-election maneuvers by political parties were also evident in the draft law on political parties.

"There is a clear impression that the law will retard the establishment of new parties," he said.

Established last September, PIB is one of a slew of new parties led by public figures. Others include the Pioneer Party, chaired by President Megawati Soekarnoputri's sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the Bung Karno Nationalist Party by composer- turned politician Eros Djarot and the Unity of Democracy and Nationhood Party by political observer Ryaas Rasyid and Andi. M. Mallarangeng.