VP criticized for voicing party's interest
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of laws regulating a separation of party leaders from state leaders, political analysts suggested on Monday that state leaders avoid prioritizing their parties' interests.
"Should politicians become state leaders, then their loyalty to their political parties must end," Bachtiar Effendy of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN) told The Jakarta Post.
Bachtiar made the remark in response to statements made by Vice President Hamzah Haz on the inclusion of the Jakarta Charter in Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution during his official visit to the East Java district of Jombang last weekend.
Hamzah, in his capacity as the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), insisted that the Jakarta Charter's inclusion in the Constitution, which would mean the full implementation of Islamic law for Muslims, would not be a threat to other religions in the country.
Debate over the wording "obliging its followers to exercise Islamic law" in the Jakarta Charter, the basic for the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution, ended with the phrase being dropped out of fear that it would cause religious fanaticism.
Bachtiar said he did not consider the statements extraordinary as Hamzah had ascended to the vice presidency from his position as chairman of PPP. "This might not be ethical. But how can he forget the platform of his party?" he asked.
Frans Magnis Suseno of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy said it was normal for state leaders to retain their position in their political party as many democratic countries, such as Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, also allowed the same.
He said all prime ministers and Cabinet ministers in those countries continued to hold their position in a political party.
Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, for example, remained the leader of the Christian Democratic Party, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair still holds on to his position in the Labor Party, he said.
"Of course they fully understand their position. The separation between a position in government and in the party is not an obligation," Magnis told the Post by phone on Monday.
Instead of giving a clear-cut opinion, Magnis expected state leaders to voice the nation's aspirations.
"I don't want to make a specific comment on the activities of our political elite. It depends on the examination of the whole population," he said.
Bachtiar shared Magnis' opinion, saying that the problem did not lie in the issue or the President or the Vice President's message during their official visit.
The most important thing to do is to modify the recruitment process, he said, adding that positions in public office, such as the presidency and vice presidency, should be filled through a direct election.
"In the future, candidates running for president and vice president should be elected through a direct election," Bachtiar reiterated.
Bachtiar said both Megawati and Hamzah often sold the programs of their political parties on their official visits as state leaders.
He said that separating the position of party leader from state leader would not aid the situation. Even if they quit their parties, they will still have a close association with their parties' platform, he said.
Bachtiar suggested that the nation develop a discourse on the need to set up a direct presidential election. "Should the president be chosen by a direct election, the debate on this matter would be closed," he added. (08)