Gus Dur keeps playing with power

Gus Dur keeps playing with power

From Rakyat Merdeka

In an effort to increase his popularity, President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid called on the people to contribute input to him on the concept of total reform. He said this in front of the Betawi community while the latter was holding a get-together in the framework of molding a harmonious life.

Gus Dur's speech was again categorized as controversial in nature. It was very clear that Gus Dur had never ceased playing with power. He picked up the idea of total reform from the demonstrators who shouted wildly at the time they took to the streets.

As a matter of fact, the President should only interpret the decrees of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and not necessarily ask for more work from the people, which would only add to his burdens.

I agree to what has been said by Nurcholish Madjid that, as far as authority is concerned, Gus Dur's leadership is very weak, if not paralyzed. There are three reasons on which Nurcholish can base his arguments.

First, Gus Dur has established no vision to which we all can refer. This is obvious when he asked for a concept of total reform from the people. Second, he cannot communicate properly. Not a single prominent figure of the elite is willing to meet with him for fear of being disappointed. And third, the fact that he has bad managerial capabilities. The frequent changes of his cabinet ministers are obvious evidence of this.

Given all of these facts, it is only fair that many prominent figures and the public demand his resignation.

I can only agree with the people's demand. If Gus Dur resigns he will remain a respected personality, even more so as a former president. But if he continues to retain his presidency this will become otherwise, and he will only have support from members of the Nahdlatul Ulama in East Java, which were somewhat engineered to that effect. While the majority of the East Javanese keep wondering about the way Gus Dur has stubbornly maintained his present position he seems to be enjoying himself very much as the President of the republic, doesn't he?

AJI JAKA PERMANA

Jakarta