PPP upset over Golkar promotion
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)