Get rid of home minister: Golkar

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 06/19/2008 9:59 AM  |  National

Home Minister Mardiyanto came under strong criticism from Golkar lawmakers Wednesday over their party's recent defeat in a North Maluku gubernatorial election dispute.

The lawmakers threatened to propose that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remove Mardiyanto from his position should the minister refuse to reverse his decision on the dispute, in which he decided against Golkar candidate Abdul Gafur.

"The Golkar faction is urging the home minister to revise his decision immediately, or we will suggest that the President withdraw this minister from his Cabinet," Golkar legislator Rustam Tamburaka told a hearing between Mardiyanto and House Commission II overseeing home affairs.

Based on a Supreme Court decision, Mardiyanto endorsed the reelection of Thaib Armayn and his running mate Abdul Gani Kasuba in the North Maluku gubernatorial election. The pair were nominated by President Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.

Golkar, which nominated rival candidates Gafur and Abdurrahim Fabanyo in the election, has protested strongly against the government's decision.

"The home minister has violated the Constitution, the law on regional elections and the law on election organizations," Rustam said.

The authority to endorse the election results belongs not to the minister but to the General Elections Commission, as stipulated by the Constitution, he said.

Rustam said the Home Ministry had been inconsistent in making decisions on regional election results, as demonstrated by the dispute in the Lampung gubernatorial election in 2003.

Then home minister M. Ma'ruf annulled the victory of Golkar Party candidate Alzier Dianis Thabranie, but the Supreme Court later ruled the annulment was illegal.

"The home minister at that time ignored the court's ruling. Keep in mind this was a ruling, while the latest court's decision on the North Maluku election is only a recommendation that is not legally binding," Rustam said.

Gafur, also a Commission II member, attended the hearing and read out his written statement for the forum.

He accused the minister of referring to a number of illegitimate procedures by the North Maluku provincial elections commission in making the decision.

Mardiyanto had gathered information only from Thaib's loyalists, he added.

"Home Minister Maj. Gen. (ret) Mardiyanto is bullying me," he said, emphasizing Mardiyanto's rank in the Indonesian Military.

"As a fellow former Indonesian Military officer, I warn the minister to act nobly," Gafur, a retired air vice marshal, said.

Ignatius Mulyono of the Democratic Party criticized Gafur's statement.

"I don't think we need to bring our backgrounds into this forum. I am personally also a retired officer, but I will not refer to this background here," Mulyono said.

Mardiyanto reacted calmly to Golkar's criticism, claiming he had based his decision on legal considerations.

"The Supreme Court's recommendation states the legal result of the North Maluku gubernatorial election is that Thaib Armaiyn and Gani Kasuba won," Mardiyanto said.

He did not respond to Golkar's threats to propose his removal from the Cabinet.

Outside the hearing Mardiyanto said, "I have done my best. If that is what Golkar wants, it's up to them." (alf)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.