Give more 'time to Gus Dur'

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid should be given more time to improve his performance rather than being asked to step aside or take a leave of absence, his younger brother Salahuddin said on Monday.

"In my opinion, the best course today is for everyone to give Gus Dur the opportunity to improve the performance of his cabinet," Salahuddin told The Jakarta Post.

He was clarifying a statement attributed to him in the Post's headline on Monday in which he suggested that his brother step aside and make way for Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri to take the lead.

"I never suggested that Gus Dur resign," he said on Monday. "In my view there is no need to consider resignation. Such a question should only be considered when Gus Dur is called to account before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)."

Some of the President's critics and political opponents say delegating more power to the Vice President could be a viable alternative to the current impasse.

They referred to an MPR ruling enacted last year calling for power sharing between the president and his deputy, and the ensuing presidential decree delineating the responsibilities between the two leaders.

Salahuddin concurred with this view. "Gus Dur should seriously implement Presidential Decree No. 121/2000 on the delegation of daily presidential duties to Megawati," he said. (dja)