Public figures racing to resign in reform fever

JAKARTA (JP): The campaign against nepotism is gaining momentum with public figures now racing to quit various executive or legislative posts they might not have obtained without familial connections.

Ilham Habibie, the son of President B.J. Habibie, resigned from his post as assistant to chief of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), which he obtained when his father headed the agency. He followed in the footsteps of his uncle, Junus Effendi Habibie, who quit over the weekend from his post as head of the Batam Industrial Development Authority.

Junus took over the Batam job from President Habibie a little more than two months ago when the latter was appointed the country's vice president.

Separately, Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said yesterday that his wife, Uga Wiranto, and daughter, Amalia Sianti Wiranto, have resigned from their posts as members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) from the Golkar faction.

Uga and Amalia joined Lilik Herawaty, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), who resigned over the weekend from her position. Lilik is the third daughter of Alip Pandoyo, the chairman of the Central Java legislative council as well as a Golkar leader in the province.

Golkar deputy chairman R. Agung Laksono, who is also the state minister of youth affairs and sports, showed off his political organization's intent to flush out those recruited by so-called nepotistic practices.

Many of the House members, who are automatically MPR members, were chosen because of their links with officials or others in power. Among MPR members are former president Soeharto's children and children-in-law, including Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Hutomo Mandala Putra, Halimah Bambang Trihatmodjo and Siti Hediati Prabowo.

"It is better for Golkar legislators in the House to voluntarily resign rather than to be formally asked to do so," Agung said yesterday.

He said Golkar would issue a formal motion if legislators who obtained their posts through nepotistic practices, ignored the general call.

The House statute says that legislators who resign, will be replaced by fellow members from their own political organizations.

Agung said Golkar was determined to cleanse itself of corruption, collusion and nepotism in line with the demand for total reform.

Constitutional law expert Sri Soemantri called on the President to reshuffle the MPR and DPR as the first step in the nation's reform program.

"Here, Habibie's goodwill and his political will is tested. He could set up a reform body at the MPR and DPR to eliminate corruption, collusion and nepotism in the two state institutions," he said at a seminar at the Catholic university of Atmajaya here yesterday. (prb/rms)