Scholars criticize MPR members' list

JAKARTA (JP): A political scientist expressed his regret yesterday that the government singled critics out from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) lineup representing various societal groups.

Muhammad A.S. Hikam said that although various figures hailing from different groups filled the 100 seats provided for the MPR, they would likely play a rubber stamp role.

"The government has intervened in the recruitment process by giving approval only to those who are favorable to government policies," the researcher at the National Institute of Science, told The Jakarta Post.

The head of state has the prerogative to select the 100 MPR candidates.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M., Minister of Information R. Hartono, timber tycoon Mohammad (Bob) Hasan and singer Rinto Harahap are included in the list of 100 MPR members endorsed by President Soeharto last week.

But Abdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais, the heads of two of the countries biggest Moslem organizations, have been excluded.

MPR will convene in a March general session to decide the State Policy Guidelines and elect a president and a vice president for the 1998/2003 period.

Hikam said the each group should be allowed to name its own representatives and submit them to the president for approval.

"There will be no substantial political changes occurring under the present mechanism.

"Unfortunately it's almost impossible to rely on institutional measures to encourage such changes but it looks like it will come from public pressures which now looms larger," he said.

Separately, Mohamad Budyatna of Indonesia University's School of Social and Political Sciences said the 100 MPR members -- elected from societal groups -- would not really have a say in the upcoming general session because it would serve only as a ceremony to endorse the State Policy Guidelines draft.

"The lineup doesn't matter to me as long as it adequately represents various groups," he said. "The problem is they, as well as representatives of minority parties, will play second fiddle due to the presence of a dominant political organization."

Budyatna's comments refer to the 488-strong functional group, Golkar, which will dominate the session. (amd)