Where is the program?
Where is the program?
From Sinar Pagi
The mass media has recently carried reports on an explanation made by Akbar Tandjung, in his capacity of as both the general chairman of the Functional Group (Golkar) and the state secretary, about the Dakab Foundation, social turmoils and condemnations of the former president Soeharto's involvement in practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism.
What Akbar has done has really astounded me. The people that former president Soeharto taught to maintain silence have not expressed a lot of proreform statements, and none of which, unfortunately, have touched on the most urgent problem, namely improving the country's deteriorating economic condition.
Many of their statements are simply about things like whether the general election or the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly should come first, or which law should be subject to amendment.
When will our government earn the confidence of the market and when will the prices of basic necessities return to normal? As a Golkar member, I can only express my pessimism because Akbar is just like the former chairman of Golkar, with the exception that Akbar does not say "according to the president's directive".
Akbar, you must bear in mind that the people are now facing pressing problems, including lay offs, a weakening purchasing power and rapidly soaring prices of basic necessities. To tell you the truth, you still have enough time to draw up a weighty program for Golkar. (It should in no way resemble the one drawn up for the 1997 general election.)
Well, there seems to be a problem on your part. You make proreform statements but you still hold your position as the state secretary. My doubts about Golkar are now getting bigger because I cannot dispel my fear that you will use Golkar as a force to support the measures the government will take. Golkar must act as an opposition force which can provide the government with critical input. To be able to help the country get out of its economic troubles, you should not believe in the adage that "right or wrong my country".
Finally, let me ask you, Akbar, are still on the boards of commissioners of the companies developing Citra Raya, Rancamaya and Kota Legenda housing complexes? You had better not nurture any hope that your Golkar will win the people's support. You had better disband Golkar. If you are still involved in some business and assume positions other than that of Golkar's chairman, and then Golkar wins the 1999 general election, the people can only raise doubts about the honesty and fairness of this victory.
DIANDRI KUSUMA AGUS
Jakarta