Assembly rejects Habibie's speech

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) rejected on Wednesday an accountability report by outgoing President B.J. Habibie of his controversial 512-day tenure.

The vote has virtually killed, or at the very least seriously undermined, his chances in the presidential election, which will be held late Wednesday.

The MPR voted 355-322 to reject the report, with nine abstaining. Four ballots were declared void.

MPR Speaker Amien Rais read the result at 12:30 a.m.

"The President's accountability speech is rejected by the Assembly," Amien pronounced before the Assembly members.

Habibie attended the session earlier, but left the venue when voting began. Some of his supporters, particularly those in Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP), slumped in their seats when they heard the announcement.

A.A. Baramuli, Habibie's close confidant and the man allegedly behind the money politics scandal, covered his face with a copy of Tempo magazine.

There was joy among members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). Some prayed and broke into tears, others congratulated one another. Many journalists and observers in the public gallery joined them in singing the national anthem Indonesia Raya.

Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung was mobbed as he tried to leave the main hall but he was shielded by bodyguards and was rushed away. It was not immediately clear who were his assailants.

Golkar leaders were seen gathering at Akbar's office on the third floor of the MPR building.

The MPR was forced to take a vote on the issue after failing to reach a consensus.

Four factions rejected the report -- PDI Perjuangan, the National Awakening Party, the Indonesian Nationhood coalition faction and the Love the Nation Democratic Party. Golkar was the lone faction to accept the report, while six could not come to a conclusion.

Habibie's accountability report, read on the opening day of the MPR General Session on Thursday, highlighted the progress Indonesia made under his leadership.

He assumed power in May 1998 in the wake of the resignation of strongman Soeharto and at a time when Indonesia was experiencing its worst economic crisis.

He listed his achievements as stronger macroeconomic indicators, the release of political prisoners, and greater freedom of expression for the people and the media.

Yet his report concealed many of the failings that dogged his administration, leaving his political opponents to tear the report apart. They zoomed in on the Bank Bali scandal, the administration's failure to prosecute Soeharto on corruption charges, the East Timor debacle and violent unrest in Aceh and Maluku, among others things.

Habibie was given the chance to respond to his critics on Sunday, and he used that opportunity to apologize for his shortcomings.

But his last ditch effort failed to appease the majority of the MPR members.

Before Tuesday's vote, Habibie remained the most serious challenger to PDI Perjuangan's Megawati Soekarnoputri in the presidential election.

Habibie was nominated by Golkar as its presidential candidate, but with the rejection of his speech, the ruling party is expected to begin looking for an alternative candidate, or to open negotiations with Megawati for the possibility of a power- sharing arrangement.

The Assembly began the drawn-out process of voting just before 10 p.m. Members were asked to cast their ballots one at a time in prepared booths set up inside the meeting room.

At 11:30 p.m., the organizers announced that 690 members had cast their votes.

Counting began immediately thereafter. After a quiet start, people in the hall cheered or jeered as each ballot of menolak (reject) and menerima (accept) was read out.

The first abstaining vote was greeted with applause.

Ballots that read setuju (agree) or tidak setuju (do not agree) were cast aside and declared void.

The outcome raised doubts of whether Habibie should continue to contest the presidential election.

Siswono Hudohusodo, a member of the interest group faction, said Habibie should withdraw his nomination because the rejection of his speech amounted to a rejection of him as president.

"Golkar should look for an alternative candidate, or support a candidate nominated by other factions," he said.

Sukowaluyo of PDI Perjuangan said the vote mirrored the people's wishes.

He proposed that Golkar open talks with PDI Perjuangan to endorse Megawati's candidacy in exchange for the vice presidential post for its chairman, Akbar Tandjung.

"This duet would be far more acceptable to the people," he said.

Tosari Wijaya, deputy chairman of the PPP which had also planned to nominate Habibie, said the party would convene immediately to decide upon another candidate.

Alwi Shihab of PKB declined to state PKB position regarding Wednesday's election, prefering to wait for further development.

"I hear Habibie will withdraw from the nomination," Alwi said.

Nominations are scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. (rms/05/byg)