PPP upset over Golkar promotion
SEMARANG (JP): The United Development Party's (PPP) Central Java branch upped the ante in the controversy over the promotion of Golkar district chiefs, as it hinted that it may in turn reward city mayors who helped PPP win in the May election.
Two PPP legislators, Saifuddin Bongklin and Solichin of the Central Java legislative council, criticized Governor Suwardi's actions yesterday and said if he continues with the "discriminative" promotion plan, PPP will also reward officials who helped their party win during the election.
"There's a big possibility that Central Java PPP may reward the Mayor of Pekalongan, as well as district and subdistrict chiefs, in the area where more votes were gained for PPP than Golkar or PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) in the 1997 general election," Solichin said.
He did not reveal what kind of reward would be given.
Governor Suwardi has been severely criticized for his plan to grant a three-grade civil servant promotion, from IIIB to IVA, to district chiefs whose districts gained a 90 percent or more share of votes for Golkar.
Suwardi has shrugged off the criticism and remains adamant about pushing ahead with the plan.
Legislator Saifuddin said the governor should not be discriminative, arguing that if such promotions were granted, then district chiefs who won for PPP and PDI should also be promoted.
"If he only pays attention to Golkar, then the plan is clearly unfair and only creates hypocrisy," Saifuddin remarked.
Exasperation was most evident in a reaction from a Diponegoro University lecturer in Semarang.
"Let him do it. If the governor wants to raise a district chief's rank to minister, just let him do what he wants!" Yudino said, full of sarcasm. "You can interpret my comments as being full of frustration and aggravation."
He pointed out that under normal circumstances, such a promotion could take up to 12 years.
"Usually you'd have to work for about 12 years before receiving the same kind of promotion. Even for the highest- achieving civil servants, it would take at least six years," he said. "I can't understand the logic behind the governor's decision." (har/mds)