The number two man<\/p>\n
The five-yearly meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), which will elect the republic's president and vice
\npresident, is only four months away. But just the same, most
\npeople are still reluctant to speak about the future national
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
The reasons behind the mass silence are not pointless shyness
\nnor unnecessary politeness, but rather a certainty that their
\nopinions would be useless. This is because the ruling elite
\npractices a long and efficacious method in electing those to the
\ntop spots.<\/p>\n
Since President Soeharto will be surely reelected for a
\nseventh term in March, the only relevant topic today is who will
\nbe the future vice president. Still, one does not see any
\nlobbying activities -- much less campaigns -- by potential
\ncandidates. Nor are any questions asked about how many will be in
\nthe running or whether the winner will be decided upon behind
\nclosed doors.<\/p>\n
Some politicians have vaguely eyed the second spot but have
\nnot been courageous enough to speak up. Perhaps they remember the
\nnumber of potential candidates for future leadership that have
\nbeen smashed by the system.<\/p>\n
Some political forces have said they would only announce their
\ncandidates when the time was right, but news of their trivial
\nactivities have paled into insignificance.<\/p>\n
These attitudes are part of our culture, and the timid but
\nambitious politicians have been defeated by the political system
\neven before they approach the battle field.<\/p>\n
A political observer has said that making so much fuss about
\nthe matter today will only lead to chaos. He was apparently
\nafraid there would be too many candidates from various social
\ngroupings outside the country's highest lawmaking body.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, every citizen with a fair idea of politics
\nis aware of how strategic the second spot has become. In fact it
\nhas been regarded a strategic post for the past 15 years, ever
\nsince Soeharto passed his prime by local standards.<\/p>\n
However, the notion became less of an issue after he emerged
\nas healthy as ever after each presidential term. But next year
\nSoeharto will be 77 years old, far beyond the life expectancy of
\nthe average Indonesian.<\/p>\n
Now that the nation is facing a complex future, many have come
\nto believe that it is once again an issue worth considering, if
\nonly for the setting of the criteria for Soeharto's second in
\ncommand between 1998 and 2003. Many people are aware that an heir
\napparent needs preparation and a long apprenticeship.<\/p>\n
Under this consideration the question now is: should the
\nmaking of a vice president be left to the MPR alone? Should the
\npeople remain silent about the important issue of their future
\nand -- as Indonesians like to say -- let the sky fall on them?<\/p>\n
Or should they sleep to the accompaniment of lullaby-like
\nrumors amid murky activities and confusing speculation, only to
\nwake up to the dizzying reality that even political pundits
\ndon't appear to know what is going on.<\/p>\n
It is impressive to see how Singapore and Malaysia prepare
\ntheir future leaders. But we still remember how Indonesia and the
\nPhilippines submerged into chaos in the aftermaths of presidents
\nSukarno and Ferdinand Marcos, under whom citizens were not
\nallowed to think about their future.<\/p>\n
If people were to discuss candidates for the second most
\nimportant post it would not mean they were venturing outside the
\nsystem. Instead they would be providing the MPR factions with new
\nideas and input.<\/p>",
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