The Lawmakers Are Too Proud to be God

My brain suddenly becomes so blunt to understand how some members of Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) use their "looked smart" brain to think smartly.

In the hearing between the lawmakers and Pertamina management on February 10, 2009, one of the lawmakers, Effendi Simbolon, humiliated Karen Agustiawan, the CEO of Pertamina by saying she was un-competent to lead the big organization as Pertamina – the prestigious State Owned Company in oil & gas and geothermal energy sector. They even harshly bullied her by putting label on her as Satpam (private security guard) if Karen could not stay away from serving the interest of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and VP Jusuf Kalla.

It’s clear to people that some of the “supposed to be respected” lawmakers do not deserve to receive any respects. That is why they cannot respect others, too. They have been acting as judge, even God, when they summon government officials or businessmen to their nest. They grill everybody offensively with a very rude question, and/or statement to make persons sitting before them not more than a defendant. They are so proud being the watchers. They form an impression that the House is a sacred institution, and everybody should put a respect to them by any mean. It’s merely the same paradigm during the new order era where the President was the most sacred body that nobody could touch it. Now, it happens in the House. The House is “The Most High” body which nobody allows to look-up at them when someone come to them. Everybody must bow down before them.

“Nobody, not even the President himself dares to question our authority and our right to ask whatever needs to be asked,” said Sonny Keraf in the 2nd hearing on Monday 16 Feb 2009 – complaining a letter from Pertamina dated 13 February 2009 that asking the lawmakers respect the initial hearing agenda. Oh really? Even some ridiculous questions that attack and humiliate personal? Who are you and your colleagues that feel so superior, Mr. Keraf? Why did you feel offended by such letter that asked lawmakers to be more effective in hearing since the previous hearing only filled with mockery than discussion?

“Comparing Pertamina President Director with a satpam is outrageous,” Karen said. “The letter sent to the Commission VII was a formal letter from Pertamina as advised by our legal after in the 1st hearing they was questioning matters about appointment of President Director, out of topics from the initial agenda,” Karen added.

The arrogance of some lawmakers (not to mention all) actually confirming they keep a big elephant sitting on their eyelid covering their rotten demeanor, as they are too busy searching bugs and spots from others. They ask respect to everybody and often frightening others that the power is in their hands. But, what scene has been shown by them so far? We found a bunch of cases involved the “supposed to be respected” lawmakers – to specify few names: Al Amin Nasution, Anthony Zeidra Abidin, Hamka Yandhu, Agus Condro, Yusuf Emir Faisal, Bulyan Royan, and more names implicated in so many graft cases, and Yahya Zaini in misconduct affairs with singer Maria Eva last time.

Looking at their reputation, it will be too hard to be pro lawmakers in any disputes. Karen is still less than a month head Pertamina as the President Director. But why her competency was an issue and being questioned? The lawmakers prejudice to Karen is against ethic since she could not be evaluated whether she’s in a good performance or not right now. Apart from this, addressing any doubt to Karen was inappropriate because, it is the government, i.e. State Owned Enterprise (BUMN) Minister who appointed Karen for the position.

Ismet Hasan Putro, chairman of Professional Civil Society said, it’s not a surprise the lawmakers conduct often makes a difficult to BUMN management who are invited to attend sessions in the House. They would summon whom they like to, even four to five times a week to be asked and grilled about something. It would annoy the BUMN officials in time effectiveness. Tragically, sometimes the lawmakers delay or cancel the session without announcement, whereas the BUMN officials have prepared everything even cancelled any other appointments. This is so harmful to BUMN because BUMN is a business entity. It’s also obvious sometimes the lawmakers expect to get kickbacks later if they keep quiet on some issues.

For so long it’s perceived widely that Pertamina has being squeezed as cash cow by the ruling politicians, moreover ahead of the election. However, such approach today makes difficulties to the Pertamina top management since KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) formed and actively sniffing and searching any smell in the government offices, the House office, and also the private business offices. We can see the result nowadays and it will more and more big fishes caught in the net.

Is Karen too hard to be persuaded by lawmakers to compromise with all of those things? Let's listen to rockers Slank sing their song titled “Gosip Jalanan” (Street Rumors) and you will nod your head.

***
Serpong, 19 February 2009
Titus J.