State officials urged to give up party position

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State officials have been urged to relinquish their strong grip on their respective political parties because the dual role could easily lead to abuse of power at the expense of national interests.

The demand gained new momentum on Monday when the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) Governor Ermaya Suradinata suggested that the officials abandon their party jobs and focus on their state duties in order to bring the nation out of the crisis.

"At least, the President, the Vice President and the Cabinet ministers should relinquish their party top posts, without having to leave the parties," Ermaya told a hearing with House Commission I for defense and foreign affairs here.

In the hearing presided over by legislator Isaac Latuconsina of the military faction, Ermaya disclosed that he had raised this issue at a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 21 last year, but there had been no response to date.

Demands for state officials to abandon their party interests have been increasing over time, because party leaders often use state facilities to the advantage of their political parties.

In any official visits funded by the state, they often spent time for a session to consolidate local party cadres.

"Cabinet ministers are too busy carrying out the activities of their parties, therefore they ignore their state duties," Ermaya remarked.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, Cabinet ministers, and speakers of the legislative bodies have also been the target of criticism because they often use state facilities in conducting the internal affairs of their party.

State officials often used their official car provided by the state even if they were attending a party function. Many suspect there has been a compromise between the officials to tolerate the practice for the sake of their preparations for the 2004 general election.

The new demand for state officials to relinquish their party posts drew prompt responses.

Amien responded positively to the demand, saying he would be ready to relinquish his leadership in the party.

"I appreciate that proposal. Just wait and see, I will relinquish my chairmanship in PAN," Amien told reporters.

But, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Sutjipto said that the largest party would keep the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the incumbent President.

Vice President Hamzah Haz who chairs the third largest party, the United Development Party (PPP), underscored the need for a specific law that requires all high-ranking state officials to relinquish their positions in political parties to avoid a conflict of interest between the state and political parties.

Speaking to journalists at his office on Monday, Hamzah said that the House could insert the regulation in certain laws such as the law on presidency.

"I think it would be better if there was a law that bans the president, vice president and cabinet ministers from leading a political party," Hamzah said, saying that earlier in a weekly breakfast with President Megawati Soekarnoputri the issue was discussed.

However, Hamzah contended that so far he never felt any conflict of interest as Vice President and chairman of PPP as he had delegated most of his duties as political party leader.

"Sometimes the two position could support each other, but of course there are some weaknesses ... but for me I have many deputies to carry out my job in my party," the Vice President said.

Opposition also came from legislators who said it was unnecessary for state officials to resign from their political party, as long as they were able to separate the party's interests in conducting their daily work.

"The person must be able to separate party interests and national interests. As long as this stance is maintained, it is unnecessary to resign from one of the positions," Golkar's deputy chairman, Slamet Effendi Yusuf, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Deputy secretary-general of PDI Perjuangan, Pramono Anung, shared Slamet's view, saying the division was unnecessary because it was not illegal.

"There is no problem thus far ... the party also needs a figure who binds the party," he said, referring to Megawati.

Senior advisors of PDI Perjuangan have recommended that President Megawati Soekarnoputri who is also the party chairwoman, concentrate more on state duties and delegate her party duties to an executive.

Alvin Lie, from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said that a state position was also a political position, therefore, one would not occupy a state position if one had no political support.

"What's important are guidelines and ethics. He or she should not allow their parties to take advantage of their position in the government," Alvin said.