Sophan balances radical, conservative views in PDI-P

Sophan balances radical, conservative views in PDI-P

JAKARTA (JP): Many skeptics brush aside the work of
legislators, describing them as having an easy life sitting on
their backsides.

But for those in the midst of the political fray, the tension
and moral complexities can be physically too much, especially if
you're chairman of the largest faction in the People's
Consultative Assembly.

That is exactly what happened to Sophan Sophiaan, the noted
actor turned Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) politician who had to rest for two-days due to low
blood pressure brought about by the packed 10-day proceedings.

"I got sick because I could not take the process. This is the
national momentum of the country's survival," Sophan told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.

"My body could not take it. I have to negotiate everything and
push for balanced decisions," he added.

During the proceedings, Sophan had to negotiate between
conveying party chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri's daily
instructions, while at the same time also negotiating the
disgruntlement of certain faction members who took up opposing
views.

"Sometimes, one or two hours after Ibu Mega gave an
instruction, some friends would come and ask for a different
decision. So I had to go back and forth to the vice president's
palace asking for her support before consolidating with the
others," he said.

"I believe this was the reason I was selected as faction
chairman. I had to balance the radical intentions of some friends
with more real and conservative decisions," Sophan added.

Sophan was appointed to replace Sutjipto as faction chairman
just a few days before the Assembly's Annual Session because
Sutjipto was called to replace outgoing Coordinating Minister for
the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie in the Assembly
deputy speaker's chair.

"When they asked me, I didn't think I could make it especially
in such a heated political constellation. But when Ibu Mega
personally asked me to do it I could not say no. But I demanded
support from everybody in the party to back me up," he said.

Sophan initially made a name for himself in the entertainment
field. He remains an accomplished movie star and movie director.

In 1991 he joined PDI Perjuangan and became a legislator in
1992.

Under his current tenure, he represents his home province of
South Sulawesi.

Born in Makassar on April 26, 1944, Sophan is married to his
costar of many movies, Widyawati. They have two children.

Despite his late entry into politics, Sophan claims to have
had a strong interest in the public service from a young age
through his father who once served as an Indonesian ambassador to
the Soviet Union and was also an active member of a political
party.

"But everything that I wanted to do in politics vanished in
1965, after the abortive Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) coup,"
he recounted.

"Back then I thought politics was so dirty. Then someone asked
me to play a movie," Sophan said.

He choose PDI Perjuangan because the party has a similar point
of view with his father's party, the Indonesian National Party,
which was founded by Megawati's father, Sukarno.

"It's really all about commitment and from a young age
nationalism is the one thing that I learned," Sophan added, while
pledging that despite his limited experience he would let his
heart guide his decisions in the political realm.

"Maybe it sounds weird, but I will only use my conscience in
every decision I make and be honest with my opinions. That is
what I have been doing in the last 11 days, during my lobby with
other factions," he said.

When asked what he expected his greatest achievement to be in
the political field, Sophan said: "Nothing. I was just hoping to
get my friends to return to their duty as the people's
representatives."(dja)