God engineered my appointment: Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has claimed that his ascent to the presidency was not contrived by anyone except God and has indicated that he might not run in the forthcoming polls.

"My presence here (as president) was not contrived by anyone, including myself. As religious people we should at the utmost conclude that it was engineered by Allah," Habibie told a group of 47 rectors from the State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) during a meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office yesterday.

On Thursday, Habibie declared that he would not seek another term in office.

He reiterated this statement yesterday, saying that God had made it his destiny to lead the country in its process of democratization through to the election of a new democratic government next year.

He appealed for the nation to give his cabinet time to work toward healing the country's dying economy because hastily introduced measures would only make the country even more chaotic.

Comparing his position to that of a doctor, Habibie said: "The decision is a matter of life or death. If the doctor gives the wrong medication and the patient dies, he can not just laugh and say 'oh, I was wrong'".

The IAIN rectors in a prepared statement to the media said they supported Habibie and that his government should be given time to resolve the crisis.

They called for an end to the polemic on Habibie's presidency, pointing out that a prolonged debate on the issue could distract attention away from the urgent reform agenda.

Mission

In a meeting with members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, Habibie emphasized that he just wanted to lead the nation through the general election in May next year then onward to the democratic election of a new president, adding that he hoped the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) would convene in December 1999 to undertake this task.

He said his mission was only to deliver a democratically elected government to the nation.

"Do not think that I want to be appointed president again," Habibie told the business people.

Habibie was elected vice president in March and replaced his mentor Soeharto on May 21, when the latter finally succumbed to massive pressure for him resign after 32 years in power.

"When the MPR elects a president and vice president it will obviously not be me...When on Dec. 22, 1999, the MPR general session has elected a president and vice president, I will consider my task as president completed," he added.

After retiring from the presidency, Habibie said he wished to dedicate himself to the task of improving Indonesian human resources.

In a meeting with senior editors last Saturday, Habibie also hinted that he would be satisfied by merely witnessing the country enter the 21st century with a new president.

Opposition leaders and students continue to insist that Habibie is only a transitional leader and are demanding fresh polls as soon as possible.

In an apparent demonstration of support for the new President, top Armed Forces (ABRI) generals met with him on Thursday and promised their loyalty to their new supreme commander.

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto strongly expressed his support for Habibie's leadership.

"Continually questioning the president's legitimacy is a waste of time," Wiranto said. (prb)