Calls for presidential succession grow louder

JAKARTA (JP): Two political observers said Wednesday that to salvage the economy presidential succession should take place this year.

Arbi Sanit, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences, and Dahlan Ranuwihardjo said separately that the calls for new leadership reflected an objective assessment of the situation.

Arbi said that when the value of the rupiah plunged drastically last month against the U.S. dollar, Soeharto's public appearances did not do much to help.

At the time, Soeharto was in the middle of a 10-day rest on doctors' orders.

"It (demand for succession) is an objective call," Dahlan said.

"Pak Harto (Soeharto's nickname) is 76 years of age, too old to serve another term.

"Indonesia is a republic, not a kingdom which must wait for the death of its king before it can have a new one."

It is widely expected that Soeharto will be reelected for a seventh consecutive term, especially now that the ruling Golkar has officially renominated him.

Following reports that the President was ailing recently, there has been mounting criticism that the political system has failed to equip Indonesia with the mechanism for a smooth transfer of power.

So far, Indonesia has no one other than Soeharto it can call presidential material.

Political observers have recently increased their calls for political reform.

Some want radical political reform, while others -- including Moslem scholars Amien Rais and Abdurrahman Wahid -- have called for gradual reform.

Amien believes reform should await the presidential succession in March.

Arbi said the country needed a new president, one who could restore local and international trust in the Indonesian government, and rehabilitate the economy.

"Sudharmono would be the most appropriate person to replace the incumbent president," he said, referring to a former vice president.

"Pak Dhar (Sudharmono's nickname) has a proven good record as a state secretary and a vice president," he said.

He said Sudharmono had been successful in cultivating Golkar's independence from the Armed Forces.

He also said Sudharmono had the support of local Moslems, mostly activists of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), and the middle classes, like the Kodel group of businessmen.

Dahlan, however, was pessimistic about presidential succession happening in March, when the 1,000 members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) convene to elect a president and vice president, and endorse the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

Attention

"This general assembly is much too close to enable reform," he said.

"However, the... presidential succession should not be postponed until 2003... because (if it is delayed that long) the nation would take note that this MPR does not pay any attention to demands for political reform."

He suggested some measures to help usher in reform, such as improving the general elections system.

Arbi stressed the importance of empowering the House of Representatives and allowing it to control the government.

"If there's no reform, the economy may plunge to its lowest ever condition in history and major mass riots will not be out of the question."

Arbi also said it was important that the next cabinet be filled with "solid", qualified ministers who were able to improve the bureaucracy.

"There should be no more (ministerial) misconduct or mismanagement in the next cabinet," he said. (imn)