South Kalimantan close to political vacuum: Law expert

South Kalimantan close to political vacuum: Law expert

Umi Sriwahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Banjarmasin

Political analysts warned against a political vacuum that would
hit South Kalimantan soon, following a decision made by the
provincial legislative council to impeach Governor Sjachriel
Darham last week.

Muhammad Effendy, a constitutional law expert at the state-run
Lambung Mangkurat University, said the political situation in the
province was "unhealthy" because of a deadlock between the
legislative body and the executive.

"The public administration has become stagnant ever since the
legislative body and the executive went their own way, raising
confusion among the locals.

"For example, many development projects had to be postponed
since they have yet to get political approval from the
legislative body," he told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday.

On the other hand, he said, the legislative body could not
conduct its legislative functions because almost all draft
rulings to be deliberated were supposed to be prepared by the
executive.

"The situation will lead to a political vacuum should the
central government not come up with a clear solution for the two
provincial institutions' friction," he said, adding that
political instability could cause the provincial administration
and legislature to lose people's confidence.

The provincial administration has proposed an additional
budget of Rp 92 billion to be distributed among 11 regencies in
the province and to pay temporary teachers in remote areas in the
province, but the proposal cannot be put forward to the central
government for political approval from the legislature.

"The lives of thousands of teachers will be affected should
the proposal on the additional budget not be approved by the
provincial legislature," he said.

Sjachriel was impeached by the provincial legislative council
during its plenary session last Wednesday following mounting
pressure from numerous sides.

According to the legislature, the governor was discharged
mainly because of corruption and they could no longer cooperate
with him in the future.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has annulled the
legislature's decision, saying the legislature had no authority
to dismiss the governor because he was appointed by the President
through a presidential decree.

"The governor is in charge because the presidential decree for
the governor's appointment is still valid," he said after
receiving 17 members of the provincial legislature, who were in
Jakarta to report on the legislature's decision of the central
government.

Safriansyah, chairman of the provincial legislature's
Commission I for security and political affairs, said the
legislative council had met with a number of high-ranking
officials in the provincial administration to avoid any political
vacuum in the province.

"What is most important is how to create a conducive situation
so that the day-to-day matters of the administration can go on
peacefully while waiting for a decision on the problem from the
home affairs minister."

He said the legislative council had yet to receive any letters
from the home affairs minister to say that Sjachriel was still in
charge.

He said that the situation would remain unclear in the
province should the legislative council defend its decision on
Sjachriel's dismissal.

Misrie Syarkawi, the secretary of the Golkar Party faction in
the legislative council, said it was impossible for the
legislature to annul one of its decisions.

"It is up to the central government on whether it accepts the
legislature's decision or not, but the most important issue is
that the legislative council can no longer cooperate with the
governor in all areas," he said.

According to a poll conducted by the Banjarmasin Post, a
majority of respondents supported the legislative council's
decision to dismiss Sjachriel.