Equal opportunity sought for all in election of VP
JAKARTA (JP): A cabinet minister called on the nation yesterday to carefully select the country's best son or daughter, regardless of their background, to accompany President Soeharto in leading Indonesia toward the third millennium.
Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo said an equal opportunity should be given to all potential candidates for the vice presidential post, whether they come from civil or military circles.
Siswono said that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has received a list of names of candidates from the public, which includes the incumbent Vice President Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno.
Siswono said Try had proven himself to be one of the country's best sons through his impressive record in his current post.
"In my view, he is very good and capable of creating a comfortable atmosphere for the nation," Siswono said after meeting with Try at Merdeka Selatan Palace yesterday.
Up to yesterday, there had been 13 names registered as vice presidential material at the People's Consultative Assembly -- the body which will elect a president, vice president and endorse the State Policy Guidelines in its assembly next year.
Six of those touted have a military background: incumbent Try Sutrisno; Minister of Defense Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat; Minister of Information Gen. (ret) R. Hartono; State Minister of National Development Planning Vice Marshall (ret) Ginandjar Kartasasmita; Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto.
The civilian candidates include House Speaker Harmoko; State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie; Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana; chairman of Moslem organization Muhammadiyah Amien Rais; and chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum.
"We must not restrict ourselves in finding the primus inter pares, the best candidate... because the position is very strategic," said Siswono.
The 76-year-old Soeharto is widely tipped to be reelected for his seventh consecutive term next March. The question of who will be elected vice president has been attracting more attention because, according to the 1945 Constitution, he or she will automatically replace the President when the latter becomes incapacitated.
Try's nomination in 1993 sparked controversy because then Armed Forces (ABRI) chief for sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Harsudiono Hartas announced Try as the candidate for the ABRI faction, without consulting Soeharto. The constitution stipulates that a vice president elect should be able to cooperate with the elected president.
It is generally believed that the likeliest candidate is one with a military background, a Javanese and a Moslem.
Outspoken scholar Arbi Sanit, however, doubted Try's capabilities.
He said Try had not been able to prove his statesmanship because, as the country's second most senior leader, he never launched strategic initiatives or ideas.
He acknowledged that Try was a devoted Moslem and a sincere leader, but added that such factors are not enough to lead a nation.
"We all agree that he is a nice person. However, what is important is his capability. People like him, but he is not a capable man," Arbit told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council K. H. Hasan Basri said he was confident Soeharto would be reelected in March.
"The vice presidential seat will be a hot issue, and we must consult with the president-elect on this," the prominent ulema said in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. (prb/43)