Give more 'time to Gus Dur'

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)