For consideration of the MPR/DPR
I hereby wish to put forward some observations which may be used by members of the People's Consultative Assembly/House of People's Representatives (MPR/DPR):
1. In the run up to the election of the new president of the Republic of Indonesia, I have noticed that there are two opposite camps of more or less equal size, namely the supporters of President Habibie and those of Ms. Megawati, who may well not only quarrel with each other but also kill each other.
2. If Habibie wins the presidential race and is reelected president, Megawati's supporters will be disappointed and, to vent their anger, they may resort to rioting. The same is true of Habibie's supporters.
3. There is, however, another camp, which may not be prominent but may be very effective. This consists of the supporters of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), or the "axis force", which appears with its "slow but sure" motto credible and without any burdens. Figures supporting this camp include Amien Rais and Yusril Ihza Mahendra. They are known to be highly dedicated to the nation and the state, and all are reform-minded.
If Gus Dur is elected as Indonesia's new president, there will not be any rioting and uncertainty after the election because the Habbibie and Megawati camps will neither win nor lose. If Gus Dur is elected president, it is only proper that Megawati becomes his vice president, because their relationship is so close that power sharing may be easily arranged by them when establishing a new Cabinet to run the administration. In addition, Muslims will no longer disagree about whether a woman may lead a country or not. We know that Gus Dur is not physically healthy, but we should respect his mind which is spiritually highly valuable.
I hope that this aspiration will be considered in a clear, wise and sincere manner regardless of ethnicity, religion, racial origin and social grouping, and, as set forth in one of the five principles of Pancasila, by putting the interests of the nation and the state over those of ones group. I would also like to remind the people's representatives at the MPR/DPR that the intactness of the nation depends on them. Therefore, they have to exercise the mandate they are shouldering with a full sense of responsibility, and consider it as a form of religious service.
MOHAMMAD IRWAN
Depok, West Java