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)