Arientha Primanitha & Camelia Pasandaran – A formal ceremony held on Friday to award prestigious state medals to individuals for their contributions toward advancing Indonesia has been struck by controversy.
The awards, approved and presented by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, were bestowed on bitter rivals Aburizal Bakrie, the chairman of the Golkar Party, and Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the former finance minister, along with Yudhoyono's wife, Kristiani Herawati, known as Ibu Ani. Sri Mulyani, a World Bank managing director, was not present at the ceremony.
Coordinating Minister for political, legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, speaking at the State Palace, asked for people to look beyond the fact that Ibu Ani was the president's wife.
Ibu Ani was bestowed the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipradana, Indonesia's highest civilian honor, along with former first ladies Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid and Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, and former first gentleman, Taufik Keimas, the current speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
"I don't mean to belittle the other recipients; all spouses of the president and vice presidents have made amazing achievements, such as Pak Taufik Kiemas who accompanied Bu Megawati Sukarnoputri," Djoko said.
Ibu Ani said she was honored to receive the award. "Thank God for this honor and I promise that I will work harder for the country directly and indirectly," she told reporters after the occasion.
She said that she had worked indirectly for the country as the wife of the president, helping him prepare for all of his duties. The first lady also pledged to continue her Smart Indonesia education program, as well as continuing to champion the environment, creativity and women's empowerment programs.
Another recipient to raise eyebrows was Bakrie, who served only briefly under Yudhoyono as coordinating minister for the economy before becoming coordinating minister for people's welfare.
The controversial businessman, who is often reported to be a thorn in Yudhoyono's side and has presidential aspirations in 2014, was awarded Indonesia's seventh highest civilian medal for extraordinary service to the integrity, viability and greatness of Indonesia. This is despite the ongoing Lapindo disaster in Sidoarjo, East Java, blamed on Lapindo Brantas, a subsidiary of the Bakrie Group.
Outspoken Golkar legislator Bambang Soesatyo, who is close to Bakrie, said honoring Sri Mulyani was "shocking." Sri Mulyani, credited as being a true reformist, ran into difficulties during the Bank Century scandal, with a number of analysts saying the troubles were caused by her clash with Bakrie in relation to a number of tax disputes.
Bambang said he was concerned honoring Sri Mulyani would undermine the value of the award. "The public will consider the government to be reckless in their consideration and selection of honor recipients."