Presidential accountability speech incomplete: PPP, PDI

JAKARTA (JP): The two minority parties criticized President Soeharto's account of his last five years of leadership as incomplete and suggested improvements yesterday.

United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairman Soerjadi separately said the President failed to include in his speech certain strategic issues, including the need for political reform.

"What has been achieved in the political sector (over the past five years) is far below our expectations," Ismail, better known as Buya, told reporters after the opening of the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday.

Two PPP legislators, Hamzah Haz and Muhammad Buang, shared Ismail's view.

"The President's accountability speech was focused on economic reform only, while economic problems cannot be separated from politics," Hamzah said.

"Economic reform should go hand in hand with political reform," Buang said.

Soerjadi said Soeharto's accountability speech failed to discuss existing mismanagement in the government.

"The account was incomplete because it discussed mostly the country's success in development programs," he said. "The account did not touch on government officials' corruption and collusion, or business monopolies."

He said the PDI faction had begun preparing its response to the presidential accountability speech. He declined to explain the faction's final stance.

Golkar legislator Pinantun Hutasoit said there would be no reason for his faction to reject the President's account of leadership.

"The House of Representatives (DPR) has never rejected President Soeharto's yearly speech on the State Budget. As it is, we will also accept the President's account of leadership," he said.

Hasan Basri Durin, chairman of the regional representatives faction, also stated his faction's readiness to accept Soeharto's account.

"The accountability speech was sincerely, objectively and straightforwardly prepared by President Soeharto," he said. "(My) faction will accept it unconditionally."

He said the President had given a balanced report of progress achieved by the country over the past five years -- his report not only disclosed success in development programs, but also in a number of problems, including the monetary crisis facing Indonesia.

Asked whether it had been necessary for Soeharto to publicly express regret over the prolonged monetary crisis, Hasan said the President should not solely be blamed for the crisis.

"This is the responsibility of all Indonesians," he said.

Hari Sabarno, chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the Assembly, said his faction had yet to discuss its stance, but he was confident members would accept Soeharto's account.

"We have renominated Pak Harto for the next presidency. Why would we reject his account?" he asked.

The five factions will deliver their overview of Soeharto's account tomorrow.

Meanwhile, former vice president Sudharmono said he understood if it took the government a long time to remedy the economy.

"The government could not overcome the crisis within a day or two," he said. "Unlike magical tricks, economic reform cannot be carried out except in phases."

"What is important is that there should be progress in the development program," he said.

Separately, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said it was not the right time to pass the buck for the economic crisis.

He said the crisis had taken place because of globalization and trade liberalization.

"Whether we like it or not, we have to bear all the risks of such a globalized economy," he said. "And we have had to suffer greater losses than we anticipated.

"What we now need is to stay united to survive the monetary crisis," he said. (imn/byg)