Calls for open VP nomination debate gain momentum

Calls for open VP nomination debate gain momentum

JAKARTA (JP): Observers and public figures alike have welcomed
the growing calls for an open vice-presidential nomination
debate, describing it as part of the public's political
education.

State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and
Muladi, a political observer at the Semarang-based Diponegoro
University, both said the public should actively participate in
the nomination process.

Habibie said such participation would be a positive sign that
the people's political awareness was growing. "It would show that
Indonesians are politically mature," he said yesterday.

Muladi said that discussions on presidential and vice
presidential candidates should not be the monopoly of certain
groups.

"Every Indonesian is free to talk about and propose names of
suitable of vice-presidential candidates. It's not a matter of
whether it is an ethical or unethical discussion and it's not a
question of it being a taboo or lawful subject, either," he told
The Jakarta Post yesterday.

However, "only the (new) People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
has the authority to officially nominate and elect the new vice
president," he said.

Habibie called on everybody to stick to the regulations
concerning the presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The new 1,000-strong MPR will be sworn in in October. Its
members will meet in March next year to elect the president and
vice president and establish the five-yearly state guidelines.

Responding to reporters' questions, Habibie said he would
"think about it" if he was nominated for the vice presidency by
the MPR.

As for whether he had the capacity to undertake the role,
Habibie replied that he was not the only person considered suited
for it.

Muladi, who is the Diponegoro University rector, said it would
not matter whether a candidate was a civilian or had a military
background, as long as he/she was accepted by the nation and able
to cooperate with the elected president.

Muladi mentioned several names he considered suitable; the
incumbent Try Sutrisno, Minister of Information Harmoko, State
Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita,
State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie,
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono and Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Hartono.

"I am sure that one of them will be elected the new vice
president," Muladi said.

Another political observer at Diponegoro University, Susilo
Utomo, said the new People's Consultative Assembly should be
careful in electing the new vice president.

"The next vice president must be able to unite all elements in
society as President Soeharto has. The country is facing threats
of disintegration," he said.

Amien Rais of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University said
people should not bother discussing who might become the next
vice-president.

"It's a very simple problem. Only the elected president knows
(who's suitable)," he told the Post yesterday.

Amien, a Moslem scholar, said he was sure Soeharto would be
re-elected president for a sixth consecutive term.

A number of other people have predicted Soeharto's re-
election. They include former Golkar chairman Amir Murtono,
former chief of the now-defunct State Internal Security Agency
Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, and Marzuki Darusman, a former Golkar
legislator.

In a separate development, the Central Java chapter of the
United Development Party (PPP) said yesterday that it would study
the proposed self-nomination of PPP chairman Ismail Hasan
Metareum for the vice-presidency.

"We need to study the proposal first because the PPP central
board has not taken the nomination issue to a formal party forum
yet," Antara quoted chapter chairman Djuhad Mahja as saying
yesterday. (imn/har)