Usman Hasan needed by foreign ministry, Golkar chief says
Usman Hasan needed by foreign ministry, Golkar chief says
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Chairman Harmoko said yesterday that the
foreign ministry has asked him to reassign legislator Usman Hasan
to an ambassadorial position.
Harmoko denied speculation that the initiative to withdraw
Usman was an attempt by the dominant political grouping to remove
another one of its outspoken members from the House of
Representatives.
"The reassignment means that the cadre (Usman) has been
promoted," he told The Jakarta Post.
He announced the plan to reassign Usman on Thursday but would
not say where the initiative came from or to which country Usman
would be posted.
Harmoko, who is also Minister of Information, made the comment
on the heels of his party's recent decision to fire outspoken
legislator Bambang Warih Koesoemo. Bambang has been accused of
offending various cabinet ministers and of routinely overstepping
party lines.
Harmoko pointed out that Golkar has the authority to withdraw
its members from the House for disciplinary reasons or to fill
ambassadorial job openings.
He said he was personally proud to learn that a Golkar member
had been entrusted by the government to become an envoy. "That
means that the cadre is considered capable for the job," he said.
Addressing proposals that the number of the Armed Forces
(ABRI) representatives in the House be reduced, Harmoko said he
welcomed the plan since ABRI leaders have no objection to
reviewing the issue.
"If ABRI wants to reduce the number of their personnel in the
House, it would be okay for Golkar," he said.
ABRI's representation and role in the House have come under
the spotlight since President Soeharto announced his recent plan
to study the electoral system.
ABRI, which does not take part in the general election system,
retains 100 of the 500 seats in the House. The remaining 400 are
contested by the three political organization Golkar, PPP (United
Development Party) and PDI (the Indonesian Democratic Party).
Spokesman for ABRI Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid has said that ABRI
needs between 70 and 75 seats to maintain the effectiveness of
its representation in the House.
Harmoko said Golkar supports research of the electoral system.
(29)