First Family ready to sacrifice for the nation: Hartono
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)