Enquiry Team Airlangga’s First Test
The Golkar Party’s position on the House of Representatives\' Enquiry Team into the KPK was the first test of the party’s new chairman.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Golkar Party’s position on the House of Representatives’ Enquiry Team into the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was the first test of the party’s new chairman.
Discussions about withdrawing from the team have appeared in Golkar\'s internal circles. Opposing the weakening of the KPK was one of Golkar\'s political stances read out during the closing of Golkar\'s Extraordinary National Congress (Munaslub) in Jakarta on Wednesday night.
Golkar’s other political positions, such as those read out by the director of Golkar’s extraordinary congress, Ibnu Munzir, among others, included expressing appreciation to the government for its ability to maintain economic growth above 5 percent, reaffirming support for Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to continue as President for the 2019-2024 term, and support for the government’s moves to fight for Palestinian independence as well as proposing that East Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Palestine.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who attended the closing ceremony, expressed his appreciation for Golkar\'s political positions, especially its support for Jokowi in the 2019 election. "Thank you for the support," he said.
Not mentioned
In regards to the KPK, Golkar did not specify details about its plan and did not mention its position in the House Enquiry into the KPK.
Newly elected Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto said that the House Enquiry Team was a separate mechanism from the party. Golkar will make a decision during the House’s sitting session, which will begin on Jan. 9, 2018. "What we can do now is to encourage the Enquiry Team to complete its work," he said.
Golkar will make a decision during the House’s sitting session, which will begin on Jan. 9, 2018.
However, Airlangga’s Success Team Leader, Happy Bone Zulkarnain, said Golkar would revoke its support and end the enquiry into the KPK. Golkar does not want its involvement in the Enquiry Team to impede the process of improving Golkar’s image as a clean party.
Golkar deputy secretary general Ace Hasan Syadzily said, "The party’s policy on the enquiry committee should be adjusted to the spirit of the new leadership."
Decisions on Golkar’s position on the Enquiry Team, Ace said, would be discussed further during Golkar’s plenary meeting, set to be held after the extraordinary congress. Golkar will also first communicate with other factions within the Enquiry Team.
Of the 10 factions in the House, only six have representatives in the Enquiry Team. In addition to Golkar, the factions include the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP), Nasdem Party and Hanura Party.
The Enquiry Team into the KPK was established amid the alleged involvement of former Golkar chairman Setya Novanto in a graft case related to the electronic identity card project (e-ID). The team, which has worked for the past eight months is chaired by Golkar politician Agun Gunandjar.
The Enquiry Team into the KPK was established amid the alleged involvement of former Golkar chairman Setya Novanto in a graft case related to the electronic identity card project.
Meanwhile, four factions who rejected the Enquiry Team and did not send their representatives are the Gerindra Party, the Democrat Party (PD), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The vice chairman of the Gerindra Party, Ferry Juliantono, said it would be positive if Golkar withdrew its members in the Enquiry Team. He said if its establishment was intended to oversee the KPK, the Enquiry Team was not needed because the House’s Commission III, which is a partner of the KPK, could do the job. In its progress thus far, the public can see that the team is intended to weaken the KPK.
However, the vice chairman of the PDI-P faction in the House, Hendrawan Supratikno, said the Enquiry Team had carried out its activities appropriately. "The House must therefore end the task of the team with recommendations. Not by withdrawing its members from the team," he said.
The chairwoman of the PPP faction in the House, Reni Marlinawati, considered the possible withdrawal from the Enquiry Team to be irrelevant, as it would not stop the work of the committee. The PPP faction will not withdraw its members from the committee. "We want to see the committee finish its work, at the latest, by the end of the next sitting session," she said.
The vice chairman of the Nasdem Party’s faction in the House, Johnny G Plate, declined to comment on Golkar\'s plan. "The DPR is still in recess. After the recess, we will see what the political situation is at that time," he said.
In a consultation meeting between the Enquiry Team and the House leaders and leaders of the factions in the House on Dec. 5, it was decided that the Enquiry Team would wait for the KPK to clarify the committee\'s findings.
The Enquiry Team would wait for the KPK to clarify the committee\'s findings.
For this, the Enquiry Team will wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court on the judicial review of Law No. 17 of 2014 on the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), the House, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) to examine the legitimacy of the House’s inquiry into the KPK.
The KPK has been summoned on several occasions but has declined to attend the meeting because it is still waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Leadership
During the closing of the extraordinary congress on Wednesday, Golkar agreed that Airlangga would hold office until 2019, to continue Novanto’s leadership term. However, Golkar opened the possibility to hold a national leadership meeting next year, to extend his term of office until 2020 or 2022.
Airlangga said Golkar would move to consolidate its solidarity such as through the establishment of a new executive board that would accommodate all factions within the party.
The composition of Golkar’s executive board was initially announced during the closing of the congress. However, the congress’ forum then gave Airlangga a month to arrange the new executive board.
Happy Bone said that all camps would be embraced, but within certain parameters. Airlangga plans to cut the number of Golkar members from 301 people in the Novanto era to 197 people. "This month will be used to review and assess the current figures," said Happy.
(AGE/APA/NTA/IAN)