Is Sri Mulyani's Resignation Moved by Political Drive?

A political observer from state Universty of Indonesia, Arbi Sanit, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s resignation was the result of political engineering by the government to save her from the legal process over the Bank Century case.

"This is a form of political compromise between the government and its coalition members. The move was made mainly to accomodate the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) that do not like Sri Mulyani," he said here on Wednesday commenting on Mulyani’s appointment as a World Bank managing director.

Arbi said it was a solution to the political deadlock in Indonesia as a result of the Bank Century bailout case that he believed would not stop unless Mulyani resigned. He said the dislike of Golkar and PKS towards Mulyani was proven by their recent move to boycott Mulyani at the House of Representatives sessions.

However, he said it was the PDIP (Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle) and Hanura (People’s Conscience Party) that were consistent in the boycott while Golkar and PKS were not.

"To me, it is the result of a compromise at the expense of Sri Mulyani," he said.

According to him, this way all elite members would be safe. He said the decision to appoint her was certainly made without consideration to the people’s wish for the settlement of the Bank Century case and the accountability of those involved.

"This move is only for saving the political elite. The government has accomodated the wish of political parties. With Mulyani’s resignation the Bank Century case is over," he said.

Arbi Sanit also suspected the US government had also played a role with regard to Mulyani’s appointment to the World Bank through its embassy here.

"The US certainly had an interest in a stable Indonesia and it certainly has had a role with regard to Mulyani’s appointment because the US is one of the bank’s biggest contributors," he said.

A constitutional court observer, Irmanputra Sidin, meanwhile said he saw nothing wrong in Mulyani’s resignation. He said based on the constitution the President had the prerogative right to do anything including replacing a cabinet minister as well as engineering Mulyani’s resignation.

"The President has the prerogative right to appoint a minister or fire a minister. So it is not wrong even if his decision is an act of engineering for political reasons," he said.

He said Mulyani’s move was humane (rather than defending her position and being pummeled).

"I think in the current system, even an angel would be unwilling to take on the responsibility of managing the country and unless a change is made on the system that guarantees the rights and obligations of all people, this kind of situation will remain. President Yudhoyono must use the current momentum to put the country in order," he said.

The chairman of the ruling Democrat Party faction in the House of Representatives, Anas Urbaningrum, expressed regret over Mulyani’s resignation but he also appreciated it to cool down political conditions in the country.

"Her resignation is actually regrettable but it also needs to be appreciated as Mulyani thereby shows an upright and selfless attitude," he said.


DIPOSTKAN OLEH SHOWROOM CAHAYA INTAN MOTOR


cahayaintan1@yahoo.com