Unhappy PDI-P accepts Laksamana's dismissal
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)