A Craving for Defunct Policies

Out of the blue, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri declared that Indonesia once again needed the Garis-garis Besar Haluan Negara (Outlines for Government Policies, or GBHN). She made the statement during an opening speech of the party's national congress, held in Jakarta two weeks ago.

Megawati seemed to be using the GBHN as a ruse to criticize President Joko Widodo's government that her party had apparently failed to control. Besides, Jokowi loves to embark on his own innovative development ventures as he promised in his election campaigns two years ago. Through her proposal, Megawati seems serious about bringing the country back to the Suharto era when she was once denied of her political rights. In fact, the abolition of the GBHN was a victory over the Suharto regime.