Gus Dur told to be patient on his critics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior Muslim cleric asked President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid on Sunday to remain cool in response to his
\ncritics who had stepped up pressure for him to resign.<\/p>\n
The President, popularly called Gus Dur, paid a courtesy visit
\nto Sunan Drajat Islamic boarding school in Lamongan, East Java,
\nand later admitted to have sought advice from the school's leader
\nAbdul Ghofur on how to respond to the opposition against him.<\/p>\n
Speaking before some 8,000 students of the school, Abdurrahman
\nquoted Ghofur as saying that leading and keeping the unity of the
\nnation was difficult and needed patience.<\/p>\n
"Just keep quiet although you are punched by your friends,"
\nsaid Abdurrahman, himself a noted Muslim cleric when he led the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama for 15
\nyears before being elected President last year.<\/p>\n
He said patience has been a mainstay of Muslim preachers,
\nincluding Sunan Drajat, in propagating Islam across Java island
\nin the past.<\/p>\n
"Only people from the Islamic boarding schools dare to give me
\nadvice, so that's why I came here," he was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
During his visit, the President held discussions with Ghofur,
\nHindu leader from India Tantri Vijayakalika, Indian Ambassador to
\nIndonesia Muthu Venkataraman and Singaporean businessman Rafi
\nDaran.<\/p>\n
Among the President's entourage were first lady Sinta Nuriyah
\nand Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin.<\/p>\n
On the same day in Surabaya, the East Java capital, Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, who usually keeps silent,
\njumped to the defense of Abdurrahman and attacked the
\ngovernment's critics.<\/p>\n
"To all those critics who frequently say the government is too
\nslow in dealing with problems and not carrying out its duty, I
\nwant to ask, what have you done besides criticize?" Megawati told
\nparty supporters as reported by Reuters.<\/p>\n
She warned her party's executives and supporters against
\njoining the "chorus of criticism" created by certain members of
\nthe political elite.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was in Surabaya in her capacity as the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nchairwoman, was apparently answering criticisms made by
\npoliticians, including the People Consultative Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais who asked Abdurrahman Wahid to resign and be
\nautomatically replaced by her.<\/p>\n
Amien who is chairman of the National Mandate Party is also
\nleader of an alliance of Muslim-based parties known as the axis
\nforce in organizing support for Abdurrahman's presidency last
\nyear against Megawati.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Scholars Association
\n(ICMI) Dawam Raharjo joined the chorus of those demanding
\nAbdurrahman's resignation.<\/p>\n
"Too many political mistakes have been made by Gus Dur causing
\nthe nation to return to crisis, instead of recovery," Dawam said
\nin Padang, West Sumatra on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He claimed that during the 17-month term of former president
\nB.J. Habibie, the country's economy showed recovery, but it had
\nweakened under the government of Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung urged
\nAbdurrahman to respond prudently to calls for his resignation,
\nparticularly by improving the work of his Cabinet, including
\ncorrecting any past blunders.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a local party function in Blora, Central Java,
\nAkbar, who chairs Golkar Party, said the President should listen
\nto criticism and respond with introspection.<\/p>\n
"This is the best thing he can do because we want Gus Dur's
\ngovernment to serve out its term until 2004," he remarked, adding
\nthat if the people see improvement the criticism will cease.<\/p>\n
But Akbar warned the President not to dare politicians to hold
\na special session of the People's Consultative Assembly to
\nimpeach him as it could cause a backlash and create support for
\nsuch a proceeding.<\/p>\n
Responding to legislators apparently disgruntled by the
\ngovernment's performance, Gus Dur dared the House to call for a
\nspecial session on Friday, saying he was not worried by the
\nprospect.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former Cabinet minister Emil Salim decried calls
\nfor Abdurrahman's resignation, saying that restoring the economy
\nwas a far more crucial agenda than toppling the President.<\/p>\n
Emil called on political leaders to end their bickering and to
\nreconcile as such controversy was doing the nation no good.
\n(jun\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-told-to-be-patient-on-his-critics-1447893297",
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