SBY’s coalition successful in taming the House

Hans David Tampubolon ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 11/04/2009 10:23 AM  |  National

The dominance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s coalition at the House of Representatives has made it difficult for it to properly implement its monitoring function on the executive, especially concerning politically sensitive cases, a discussion reveals.

One of the high-profile cases the House has yet to address is the alleged plot by the Attorney Generals’ Office and the National Police to fabricate evidence to implicate two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputies in graft cases.

Another case that is also politically sensitive is the Bank Century bailout, where the government injected Rp 6.7 trillion (US$703.5 million) of funds, a much larger figure than the original agreed bailout fund of less than Rp 1 trillion, to save the bank.

Experts and legislators deemed both cases had escalated from the criminal domain to much more sensitive social and political domains, because both were related and allegedly involved powerful businessmen and politicians.

Even though some legislators have decided to take firmer action to handle the matter, such as proposing an inquiry committee be established, the House has yet to issue a serious statement.

Desmon Mahesa, a legislator from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), said during a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday he was not surprised with the House’s docility.

He said this was because the legislative body was dominated by the government’s Democratic Party and its coalition, which includes the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Golkar Party.

Gerindra is the second-smallest party in the House and only one of three parties not included in the coalition. Gerindra, the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) make up only 25 percent of the House’s 560 seats.

“It’s as if the House is dancing a traditional Poco-poco dance,” Desmon said.

“Every time it wants to raise an issue, it pushes the government hard for a moment before retreating.”

Desmon also said even though his party wanted to be critical of the government, it found it difficult to convey its message at the House.

“That’s because the coalition often tackles us for the sake of ‘unity’,” he said.

He said being critical of Yudhoyono, including trying to impeach him, was near impossible due to the apparent political dominance of the President’s coalition.

“The only thing we can do, if we want to topple him, is to use people power,” he said.

“The best method is people punishment, but even that will not solve the problem,” he said.

Desmon also said people had high expectations of Yudhoyono.

“He won the presidential election with more than 60 percent of votes.

“This shows the people trusted him.

“However, the nation is learning that it has voted for the wrong president,” he said.

Adi Sueyadi, a political expert from Makassar’s Hasanuddin University, said during the discussion it was time for the House to be more critical of the government.

Otherwise, he said, the legislators would confirm people’s suspicion the government had managed to tame the legislative body.

Separately, House Speaker Marzuki Alie from the Democratic Party said all stakeholders had to wait for the investigations into the high-profile cases to be completed.

“We must wait for the Supreme Audit Agency to finish its financial audit on the Bank Century bailout.
“For the KPK issue, let’s put this into the law’s hands.

“We must ensure that anyone who is found guilty is punished, whether they are the police or the KPK,” he said.

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