First Family ready to sacrifice for the nation: Hartono

JAKARTA (JP): Two cabinet ministers claiming to be close friends of President Soeharto and his children said the First Family would sacrifice anything for the nation, including valuable time together should he be renominated.

Minister of Information R. Hartono and State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie agreed separately Wednesday that Soeharto would be willing to sacrifice everything if the people asked him to lead the nation for another term.

The two ministers were commenting on a recent statement by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Soeharto's eldest daughter and a Golkar leader, that she would prefer her father were not reelected so he could spend more time with his family.

"Let me say the truth and use my right (as a daughter), rather than observing my duties. I beg you (the nation) not to reelect him. But then, it's not me who would be reelecting him, but the people of Indonesia," she said in Semarang, Central Java, last week.

Her remarks invited many comments, but Golkar said it would not change its decision to renominate Soeharto at the People's Consultative Assembly session next March.

Hartono pointed out that it was very natural for President Soeharto's six children if they preferred their father to spend more time with his family after being President for 30 years.

Hartono said he was confident, however, that the family would be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of national interest.

He said it was quite understandable that Hardiyanti, who is better known as Mbak Tutut, wanted more privacy for the family.

The retired Army general quickly added that the family understood the aspiration of people, who still needed their father's leadership.

"I think I know this because I am close to the family. Mbak Tutut and her younger brothers and sisters will be ready to give their support if the nation needs the family," Hartono said Wednesday after attending an end of year cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat.

The 76-year old President is widely expected to be reelected next March for his seventh consecutive term.

The public's attention will be likely more focused on who will accompany Soeharto as vice president. Hardiyanti herself has firmly refused some people's motion to name her a vice presidential candidate.

Hartono, appointed as minister of information in June, shortly after retiring as Army chief of staff, hinted that Soeharto is still the country's best son to lead the nation.

"A younger person (to succeed Soeharto) may not be capable, or his quality far below Pak Harto's. What's important is capability and quality. He was as fit when he presided over the cabinet meeting just now as he was before," Hartono observed when asked about people's concern on Soeharto's age and health.

Habibie reiterated that Soeharto would be ready to sacrifice everything if the people asked him to do so.

"I dare to say that because I have become one of his aides... as a minister for 20 years and previously as an advisor. So, altogether (I have been an aide) for 24 years," Habibie said before attending the cabinet meeting. (prb)