Unhappy PDI-P accepts Laksamana's dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): Despite being discontented with the recent Cabinet reshuffle, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) elected on Tuesday not to withdraw its representatives from the Cabinet.

Speaking after an executive meeting at its headquarters in South Jakarta, party deputy chairman Arifin Panigoro said PDI Perjuangan would maintain its support for the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid, despite the dismissal of party member Laksamana Sukardi as the state minister of investment and state enterprises development.

"Although we regret the replacement, we will not overreact and retaliate by revoking our support," Arifin said.

He said party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri could not openly respond to the matter due to her position as Vice President.

Instead, Megawati has suggested the party's faction at the House of Representatives decide PDI Perjuangan's stance on the replacement of Laksamana, according to Arifin, who recently replaced Dimyati Hartono as the head of the party's faction at the House.

Megawati presided over the meeting, the first she has attended since the Cabinet shake-up.

Laksamana and minister of trade and industry Yusuf Kalla of the Golkar Party were dismissed on Monday amid allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism. Laksamana's former secretary- general and Nahdlatul Ulama leader Rozy Munir and Indonesian ambassador to Singapore Luhut Binsar Panjaitan were named as their respective replacements.

PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Soetjipto said the dismissal of Laksamana would not affect Megawati's relationship with Abdurrahman.

"Megawati appeared disgruntled with the replacement, but it will not damage her relationship with the President," Soetjipto said after the meeting.

He said his party supported a proposal by Golkar Party to set up a special ad hoc House committee to investigate the graft charges aimed at Kalla and Laksamana.

"We will also ask the House to form such as a committee," Soetjipto said.

He contended the parties' similar stance on the issue could be viewed as a step toward a coalition of the two major parties, which won more than half of the seats in the House in the June general election.

Soetjipto said he had met with Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung to discuss the Cabinet reshuffle.

Meanwhile, Arifin did not rule out the possibility of PDI Perjuangan and Golkar forming some type of alliance.

"There is no eternal friend or enemy in politics, is there," Arifin said.

Akbar, who is also the House speaker, suggested last week the House form a committee to investigate the graft charges leveled against Kalla.

"Since the President revealed the charges in the House, it should be investigated by the House," he said.

Shortly after the dismissal of the two ministers, the President said disharmony between his economic ministers was behind the Cabinet shake-up. Later, the President accused Laksamana and Kalla of graft.

Meanwhile, the National Awakening Party (PKB)'s faction in the House urged the President to continue reshuffling the Cabinet, saying the ministers had failed fully to support Abdurrahman.

"A further Cabinet reshuffle is urgent since the ministers cannot work effectively to support the President," the chairman of the party's faction at the House, Taufiqurrahman Saleh, said.

He said PKB supported Abdurrahman's move to replace Laksamana and Yusuf based on presidential prerogative and the Cabinet's lack of effectiveness.

He said PKB also supported the President's plan to lift People's Consultative Assembly Decree No. 25/1966 banning communism.

"The PKB faction will officially propose that the Assembly revoke the decree," he said.

Abdurrahman's desire to revoke the 34-year-old decree drew protests by Muslim groups, and some political leaders have asked the Assembly arrange a special session to oust Abdurrahman for his controversial proposal. (jun)