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