`Untouchable' Tomy should thank Saddam
Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, korpur@yahoo.com
The live TV coverage of the "consultation meeting" of notorious businessman Tomy Winata with the House of Representatives Commission I on Monday brought to mind the appearance of the legendary Mafioso Al Capone in the Untouchables movie and TV series; of course, without the presence of federal agent Elliot Ness.
Tomy's lawyers or loyal followers may protest this comparison, but it's only an imaginary comparison.
For Tomy, the meeting may likely be among his most humiliating 15 minutes of infamy. The legislators grilled Tomy, rumored to be one of the most feared tycoons in the country, for nearly four hours. He was treated like a defendant and at least two TV stations broadcasted the hearing live -- all because a protest on March 8 by his supporters against the Tempo weekly had involved intimidation and violence against the editors and journalists.
They were upset on the weekly's report which quoted an anonymous source saying Tomy had offered a proposal to renovate the Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta prior to the fire which destroyed it. The report also published his denial.
In the meeting with legislators Tomy tried to hide his resentment when questioned about his alleged role in drug trafficking, gambling, and in the July 27 riots in 1996 to remove Megawati Soekarnoputri from the then-Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
He was seated in the same row with Tempo weekly magazine chief editor Bambang Harymurti, who had experienced the banning of Tempo with two other media in 1994 for their critical reports.
Tomy tried to convince Commission I members that his only ambition was to serve his beloved nation, to help the poor, to hire the jobless and to help drug victims.
Renowned for his close relations with nearly all top level officers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, he appeared like an ordinary businessman during the meeting with legislators.
"Do not be deceived by his appearance like the Angel Gabriel," legislator Trimedya Panjaitan said.
Legislator Achmad Sumargono told the businessman not to be arrogant and reminded him to learn from the cronies of former president Soeharto, who fell along with the former ruler.
The legislators deserve praise for never hinting at discriminatory remarks against the 45-year-old Chinese Indonesian businessman, unprovoked by the earlier discriminatory statements made by Tomy's close aide David, alias A. Miauw.
It is likely that Tomy's enemies and others who do not like the way he runs his business, cannot hope for any change in him. He may assume a lower profile in public, but his business empire, power and perceived character will likely remain untouchable.
It is yet to be seen whether the media can last long in their "war on thuggery", their efforts to uphold justice and to urge the government to punish those who are responsible for the attack against Tempo, including the physical abuse of its chief editor and former astronaut candidate Bambang.
Routinization will pose a challenge to the media's struggle in this respect.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will also be quite helpful, albeit unintentionally, to Tomy in the next few days, because when the United States eventually invades Iraq, news on the war will dominate the headlines. The police will be busy anticipating possible anti-U.S. protests throughout the country, despite demands that Tomy's case remain a priority.
The House has vowed to crack down on any thuggery; yet almost none of the hundreds of mega-corruption scandals have been resolved. From President Megawati to her ministers and to anticorruption officials, from judges to prosecutors, from police and to religious leaders, all condemn corruption, but what have they done to live up to their own vows? The executives of Lippo Bank remain untouchable, although their crime is obvious to ordinary Indonesians.
Protection of press freedom cannot be expected from the Cabinet, while the President herself often lashes out at the media.
Tomy Winata has become controversial just because his name is often spoken in the same breath as dirty business, violence and arrogance, and the people around him are overconfident about their boss's supremacy. Regardless of the truth behind the allegations, Tomy's image drives fear into many people.
Many other conglomerates are no cleaner than Tomy's, but have never been grilled in public. TNI generals and top brass of the police have denied the rumors that they received "protection" money from Tomy, and time will tell of the efforts to clear up such rumors.
Legislators also told the media that they must learn from the many cases of dissatisfaction over press coverage, from sensational news to pornographic reports.
Tomy himself will most likely recover quickly from Monday's embarrassment, and many will continue to pay their respects to the Don.
And like watching the Untouchables, people soon leave the cinema after the end credits to return to their ordinary lives.
Will we also forget such cases of violence?