'War' at the House

'War' at the House

Failing to proceed with the discussion on the fate of its speaker Akbar Tandjung through the Honorary Council, members of the House of Representatives (DPR) are now preparing a petition to unseat him.

The move was sponsored by members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and National Awakening Party (PKB) factions, and has so far collected at least 70 signatures. Those who signed the petition are of the opinion that it is not decent for Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar Party, to continue leading the House after the court sentenced him to three years in jail in a Rp 40 billion graft case.

Golkar feels uneasy with the move and has decided to retaliate. The Golkar faction is now preparing a maneuver to take issue with the legislators absentee records for routine sessions. Most of the targeted legislators are from PDI Perjuangan and PKB factions.

Golkar now believes it has a weapon with which to shoot its political foes, conveniently forgetting that several legislators of the Golkar faction also possess comparable attendance records.

Some of the targeted PDI Perjuangan legislators are big guns, such as Taufik Kiemas (husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri), Laksamana Sukardi (Minister of State Enterprises) and Arifin Panigoro (a noted businessman).

With these three names included on the list of delinquent legislators, Golkar believes that it has a strong bargaining position on the petition filed against Akbar.

The war starts in the House. Each faction has been trying to capitalize on its rivals' sins or mistakes, and may in fact benefit the general public as it could expose malfeasance in the House.

Thus it should become clear which legislators really possess a high morality and take seriously their oath to represent the people.

-- Republika, Jakarta