Same old Golkar

Same old Golkar

From Merdeka

Akbar Tandjung's statement in his capacity as Golkar chairman that we do not need political experiments is an obvious dig against people who, in his opinion, are newcomers to the political arena. He means people who have just ventured into the Indonesian political jungle, such as Amien Rais, Nur Mahmudi Isma'il and Yusril Mahendra.

Look closer and we see the statement is a substitute, albeit one and the same, of the assertion often made by the Golkar functional group, the vehicle of Soeharto and his cronies until today, that development requires continuity. In other words, can it be taken that Golkar must continue to win to ensure the continuity of development? If Golkar lost, would it mean development would come to a halt?

Put another way, it follows that if Golkar does not rule, political experiments will take place.

It is proof that Golkar has not changed, but still resorts to the old paradigm. It has not learned its lesson. It is unrepentant. Its apology is mere maneuvering.

I concur with the opinion that Golkar should be punished. It would be comparable to receiving a red card in football. It must be prohibited from participating in the next two general elections.

Is that democratic? It is very democratic. To allow a party which violated the election rules to join the election again would be very undemocratic. Golkar has acted against the rules not once, but six times.

Being democratic means not allowing the culprit to commit offenses arbitrarily, which was Golkar because of its power. To allow Golkar to join the general election would be tantamount to permitting a player to foul an opponent so roughly as to disable him. That was done by Golkar against the Indonesian Democratic Party faction of Megawati in the most recent election.

I would like to remind all the Indonesian people who wish this country to change into a new Indonesia that is religious and democratic to be wary of people like Akbar Tanjung and chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Baramuli. Advancing toward a new Indonesia certainly requires a new paradigm, even though this is, in Akbar Tanjung's opinion, an "experiment".

ABDUL WAHID

Jakarta