PPP legislators asked to be vocal
PPP legislators asked to be vocal
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Chief of the United Development
Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum, who won notoriety for firing a
whistle-blowing legislator in May, calls on his legislators to be
outspoken.
Metareum told thousands of party activists on Sunday night
that legislators should have the courage to defend the interests
of the people at whatever risks.
"If we are not vocal, who else are supposed to channel
Indonesian Moslems' aspirations?" Metareum asked to thunderous
applause from supporters of the Moslem-oriented party.
The PPP has come under criticism for dismissing its outspoken
member of the House of Representatives, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, in
May. It charged that the legislator liked deviating from the
party's official line, including "offending" cabinet ministers in
hearings.
Bintang was fired at a time when he was facing charges of
insulting President Soeharto in an anti-Indonesian government
demonstration in Germany during Soeharto's visit there.
"The party has never forbidden its politicians from being
outspoken. On the contrary, we have always encouraged them to
defend the people's interests," Metareum said.
He maintained that PPP politicians in the House and regional
legislative councils who have been vocal to maintain their stand
and have the courage to take risks.
Metareum encouraged politicians who are afraid to defend the
people's interests to change their attitude because the party is
becoming popular, especially among the younger generation.
In the 1992, the PPP won 62 seats in the House, making it
second fiddle after the ruling Golkar, which swept up 282 of the
400 contested seats. The Indonesian Democratic Party remains the
smallest with 56 seats.
Metareum said that in the future, PPP will increasingly rely
on younger voters for support.
He reiterated his criticism of the implementation of the
general elections held every five years, which has seen landslide
victories for Golkar.
He pointed out that the biggest weakness in the past elections
was that PPP witnesses were not allowed by government-dominated
election committees to check on the counted ballots.
"But I'm sure this problem will not happen again in the
upcoming (1997) election," he said. (har/pan)