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)