President doesn't object to my meeting, says Kwik

President doesn't object to my meeting, says Kwik

JAKARTA (JP): Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy,
Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie continued his push for a
meeting between top legislators to discuss the state of the
nation, and received a nod of approval from the President on
Friday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Abdurrahman at the
presidential palace, Kwik claimed the President had not objected
to the meeting.

Kwik said Abdurrahman admitted that he had not read the notice
sent to him concerning the meeting but said that such a gathering
was part of the democratic process.

Kwik said he briefed Abdurrahman on the aims of the meeting
which was designed as "a medium for expressing opinions" by
legislators without representing their own political parties.

Kwik also said the President had expressed no concerns that
the meeting would be used as a means to rattle the government.
The meeting, pledged Kwik, would not reach any conclusions and
would be open for press coverage.

Before his meeting with Abdurrahman on Friday, Kwik on
Thursday evening paid a call on House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung.

Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, said on
Friday that he would not attend the meeting as he had a prior
party engagement in Central Java.

But he stressed that he did not object to the meeting and
called on those attending to use the name of the House as an
institution when voicing their opinions during the meeting.

But the planned meeting is already facing opposition from the
President's own National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian
Military (TNI)/Police faction who have said that they would not
attend.

Akbar viewed the PKB's rejection as being based on an initial
assumption that the meeting would end up trying to discredit the
President or the government.

"But the TNI/Police faction's absence is understandable as
their organization is very tight," he remarked.

PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil on Friday "suggested" that
party members should not attend the meeting.

He also questioned the purpose of convening such a meeting
outside the confines of the House as it was supposed to be solely
attended by legislators.

"There's no reason to attend the meeting. But it's Kwik's
right (to organize one)," Matori, who is also Deputy Speaker of
the People's Consultative Assembly, said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kholiq Achmad, secretary of the PKB faction
in the House, revealed that Matori had also issued a formal
"suggestion" not to attend the meeting during a party plenary
session earlier on Friday.

"The PKB opposes the meeting and its legislators are barred
from attending it because it is sponsored and attended by House
members who are disappointed with the government's performance,"
he told reporters.

Achmad said that according to Matori, Kwik's present political
stance on the government differed from his previous one when he
served as a coordinating minister.

Achmad pointed out that while in the cabinet Kwik was full of
support for the President but was now becoming increasingly
disenchanted with the government.

"And the more than 170 legislators who have confirmed their
presence at the meeting are Gus Dur's critics and those who have
supported the ongoing investigation into Buloggate," he said
referring to the House probe on a corruption scandal allegedly
involving the President.

At least 167 legislators have registered to attend the meeting
which is expected to take place at the Hotel Mulia, South
Jakarta. (jun/rms/byg)