Time for Gus Dur to understand the people: Scholar<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): It is the time for President Abdurrahman
\nWahid to understand the people, a scholar said in a seminar here
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Riswanda Imawan, a political observer at Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, said in a discussion Understanding Gus Dur that Gus
\nDur, as the President is affectionately called, was still
\napplying the old leadership principle of \"you follow me' rather
\nthan \"I follow you\", which is really relevant and needed in a
\nmodern society.<\/p>\n
The half-day seminar organized by The Jakarta Post
\nrepresentative office in Yogyakarta also featured two other noted
\nscholars -- economist A. Tony Prasetyantono and state
\nadministrative law expert Mohammad Mahfud.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Riswanda said, the people are required to
\nunderstand (the will of) the leader and not vice versa. \"As a
\nconsequence, the management pattern being employed by the
\nPresident is inspired by the New Order's management style.\"<\/p>\n
He cited the elimination of certain people from the Cabinet,
\nand the repressive methods applied by both the New Order regime
\nand Abdurrahman's administration.<\/p>\n
\"It is right that he (the President) has the prerogative to
\nfire Cabinet ministers. However, the fact that the fired
\nministers had been guaranteed by their political party leaders
\nshould have been considered.\"<\/p>\n
Riswanda suggested that Abdurrahman recruit true political
\nexperts who have unquestioned mastery of political science, not
\npolitical activists or politicians, as his political advisors.<\/p>\n
\"This could prevent Gus Dur from making controversial and
\nconfusing statements,\" said Riswanda.<\/p>\n
According to Mohammad Mahfud, Abdurrahman, former chairman of
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim organization in
\nIndonesia, is believed by most NU members to be wali (the chosen
\none or religious icon).<\/p>\n
As a wali he would do no wrong, said Mahfud of Yogyakarta's
\nIndonesian Islamic University.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever he does is right. The more he denies that he is wali
\nthe stronger the people believe that he is wali. Thus if he does
\nsomething right, the people say that it is a sign that he is an
\nicon. But if he does something wrong they will say that people
\ndon't understand what he does.\"<\/p>\n
Tony Prasetyantono, who is also from Gadjah Mada University,
\nshares his opinion. Tony said that Gus Dur needed \"champions\" in
\nmacroeconomics to save the people from further downfall.<\/p>\n
\"He needs macroeconomists to strengthen the economic team to
\nhelp him correct the country's catastrophe. We need
\nmacroeconomists who are always thinking about WTO even in their
\ndreams,\" he said, mentioning a few names, including Dorojatun
\nKuncorojakti and Mari Pangestu.<\/p>\n
The \"champions\" would also help the President better
\nunderstand the real economic situation. It is not that easy for
\nsomeone to explain the real economic problems to the President
\ndue to his physical handicap.<\/p>\n
\"Explanations of economy are usually accompanied by tables,
\ngraphs, curves, or diagrams that are difficult to explain with
\nwords only,\" he said. \"It is, therefore, quite understandable
\nthat Gus Dur has difficulty making correct economic policies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, senior lawyer Adnan
\nBuyung Nasution called all parties and all layers of society to
\ncontinue supporting Abdurrahman, despite his weaknesses and
\nshortcomings, \"Or the situation will deteriorate.\"<\/p>\n
Buyung was of the opinion that a total reshuffle of the
\ncurrent Cabinet would facilitate economic recovery. \"We need
\nprofessional, idealistic Cabinet members with clear commitments.<\/p>\n
He said Abdurrahman has no clear programs. \"He reigns with
\nintuition.\" (swa\/sur\/27)<\/p>",
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