Golkar and Akbar Tandjung in the end escaped their feared trial by legislature. With an unequivocal voice, last weeks session rejected the formation of a special committee to look into the scandal, over diversion of off-budget funds from the state logistics agency, Bulog. The big party of the New Order era was right at the heart of the affair, which dated from the days of former president B.J. Habibie.

And the party escaped largely thanks to its f