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.