TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Observing the Golkar Party national convention in Bali recently, was like watching a political comedy. Everything was turned upside down and topsy-turvy. The illogical became rational and the forbidden became halal (meaning allowed-as opposed to haram or forbidden).
The most glaring example of the party's chaotic situation is the appointment of 200 members to the party's central executive board. Some of them actually have traits or reputations that clearly defies the party's standards, as laid down in its rules and regulations.
In the past, Golkar is known for its 'PDLT' due dilligence when assessing potential members. PDLT stands for "performance, dedication, loyalty and a clean record". But judging from the names listed in the new executive board, all standards seem to have been foregone and forgotten. As Roem Kono, a member of the board's steering committee breezily commented, "Everyone has political rights." In other words, anything goes.
The first name that pops out of the ordinary is, of course, that of Nurdin Halid, who was elected to the vital post of executive chairman. Nurdin served time in jail for his involvement in the 2001-2002 village cooperative (Inkud) rice import corruption case. Then there's Yahya Zaini, caught red-faced in a pornographic video movie. And Fahd El Fouz A. Rafiq was sent to jail for embezzling funds allocated for the distribution of copies of the Qur'an. There is also Ahmad Hidayat Mus, from Sula regency who is suspected for corruption and Sigid Haryo Wibisono, who was jailed for his role in the murder of Nasaruddin Zulkarnaen, managing director of Putra Rajawali Banjaran company.
If the Golkar Party is ever serious about building a correctional facility, half their needs will have been fulfilled, given that their executive board seems to have all the 'qualified' people.
Having evaded the 1998 'winds of reform', thanks to the 'skill' of senior member Akbar Tandjung, Golkar has, since then, not done anything right. It joined the Red-and-White Coalition in the 2014 general elections, but the coalition collapsed. This happened after Setya Novanto was humiliated by the scandalous 'father wants shares' incident, which forced him to resign from his job as House of Representatives (DPR) speaker.
But the case, which has since ground to a halt, then turned into a very strong bargaining chip for Golkar's political enemies. Apparently, right after the conference, the newly-elected chairman rushed to the Palace to declare his undying support for the government coalition. This only added to the political comedy that is called Golkar.
The big question is whether there were any 'intervention' from the Palace at the Bali conference. If it did happen, it is this kind of immorality that kills democracy. We must remember that a healthy democracy can only grow from a party system that is inherently healthy. And healthy parties must emerge from the aspirations and aims of their constituents, not from people doing backroom deals.
Given the character and track records of the people now in charge of the party, it is certain that Golkar will not step down from the political comedy stage any time soon. Setya has already taken an oath of loyalty to Joko Widodo for the 2019 presidential election, which is still three years away. Admittedly, this comedy is entertaining and amusing. All we can hope for is that other political parties refrain from joining the chaos. (*)
Read the full story in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
