Vengeful Golkar prepares next move to save chairman

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Golkar is displaying its mettle as its legislators are calling for a disciplinary committee to target colleagues with poor attendance records in a bid to botch a move to unseat House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Legislator Akil Mochtar of Golkar confirmed that as of last night the proposal to set up a disciplinary committee had won the support of 50 House members, not only from the former ruling party, but from the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Military/National Police factions.

"We are trying to uphold a decree of Assembly Tap MPR No. 6/2002, which mandates legislators to boost their performance," Akil told The Jakarta Post.

However, the deputy secretary of the PPP faction, Achmad Muqowam, denied the claim, saying that his faction had not told members to support Golkar's maneuver.

"We agree to the concept to set up a disciplinary committee, but we also understand the current political situation. This is only revenge, and we don't support it," Muqowam said.

Earlier in the day, 79 legislators, mostly from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), officially lodged a petition of non-confidence against Akbar following his conviction in a graft case. The court handed down a three-year jail sentence to Akbar. But the court did not immediately send him to jail, pending Akbar's appeal.

The petition was handed over to the deputy House speaker, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, a strong contender of Akbar's.

Following the conviction, pressure has mounted on Akbar to relinquish the top legislative post out of morality and good will.

Golkar's proposed disciplinary committee will target, among others, PDI legislators Taufik Kiemas and Guruh Soekarnoputra, the husband and brother of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

While Akil refuted the opinion that Golkar's move was in retaliation to the maneuvering, his fellow Golkar legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said that the political move was in reaction to a similar move to suspend Akbar from his position as House speaker.

"Every political move will be matched with a reciprocal action. We have collected signatures and we will submit the proposal soon," Ferry said.

He said that the move was aimed at telling the rest of the legislators that they were not "fit" to talk about morality because they hardly fulfilled their duties.

"They said Akbar should be replaced for moral reasons, so let's see whether these legislators have the courage to say that," he said.

Asked when Golkar legislators would submit their proposal, Ferry said they were waiting for further moves from the opposition group to suspend Akbar.

Akbar brushed aside suspicion that he had ordered a move to block the growing effort to oust him from the House, saying that he had not ordered the plan.

"However, there is a solid reason for us to improve the performance of the House and according to internal rulings for disciplinary measures, a disciplinary committee is allowed," he said.

Meanwhile, political observer J. Kristiadi said a reprisal by Golkar's legislators to save the convicted House speaker would not help him keep the top legislative post, but would instead backfire and disgrace Golkar.

Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Golkar's desperate efforts to save Akbar would upset the public.

"The move by Golkar legislators will only disgrace the party. How can a party try to save a person like Akbar Tandjung?" Kristiadi said.

Kristiadi and Muqowam said that Golkar's attempt was fueled by revenge, and not a genuine effort to improve the performance of the House.