Gus Dur proposes separation of executive powers

Gus Dur proposes separation of executive powers

JAKARTA (JP): With fears of a deadlocked presidential election
looming, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization
Abdurrahman Wahid suggested on Friday a separation of power
between the head of government and the head of state.

Abdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur, said the head of
state should only perform protocol tasks, while the head of
government should carry out functional duties.

The 700-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is slated
to convene in November to, among other things, elect a president
and vice president.

"The president will then be the head of government, who will
be elected by the MPR, while the tasks of the head of state will
be performed by the MPR Speaker, who will also be chosen by the
MPR," Gus Dur said.

He said the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri might win the
elections, but that any bid made to govern the state would face
huge opposition.

"What will happen to her leadership and to this country if 40
percent of Indonesian people are against her?" he said.

Abdurrahman, also the National Awakening Party (PKB) founder,
said the idea of separating protocol from functional duties came
after a thorough evaluation of articles in the 1945 Constitution
and intense consultation with several constitutional law experts.

He denied intending to amend the Constitution.

"The idea cannot be considered an amendment to the 1945
Constitution. It's just an interpretation of the Constitution."

The Constitution confers on a president a sweeping range of
protocol and administrative prerogatives.

In April, chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Yusril
Ihza Mahendra suggested a similar mechanism to avoid a deadlock
in the presidential election.

Yusril cited the parliamentary administration system in the
early years of Indonesia's independence when Soekarno was
president, Mohammad Hatta, the vice president and Sutan Sjahrir,
the prime minister.

Abdurrahman, however, declined to disclose the eligible
persons for the two posts, saying the winning party would decide
the matter.

He said he supported Megawati, but could not guarantee all PKB
members would follow suit.

"I told Mbak Mega not to force me to guarantee her that PKB
members will follow me."

While the executive board of the NU has yet to issue an
official statement, a member of the Syuriah (the lawmaking body)
Noer Iskandar said on Friday any statement made by NU officials
should be considered a personal comment only.

"I hope all NU members will remain patient and will not be
influenced by rumors," he told The Jakarta Post.

Muslim leaders have recently criticized PDI Perjuangan for
naming many non-Muslim legislative candidates and a woman
presidential candidate.

Habibie meeting

Abdurrahman also said he met President B.J. Habibie at the
President's residence in Patra Kuningan subdistrict, South
Jakarta, on Friday and discussed preparations for the General
Session of the MPR.

"I discussed with Pak Habibie reconciliation efforts after the
general election is over and the nation waits to elect a new
president in November."

With the MPR General Session approaching, intensive meetings
among officials of leading parties have been held in the past few
days to discuss the possibility of establishing coalitions.

Parties with the most votes -- Golkar, the PKB, the National
Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) --
indicated that they were willing to coalesce with PDI Perjuangan.

Megawati said she would not comment on the offers until the
nationwide official tally of the votes was completed.

"I'll tell you what we'll do after we get the official overall
tally," she told the Post and the Forum Keadilan weekly at her
house in Kebagusan subdistrict, South Jakarta, on Friday.

As of Friday 8:30 p.m., the General Elections Commission (KPU)
estimated PDI Perjuangan had obtained 19.7 million votes, with an
estimated 66 House of Representatives seats. Golkar closed in on
the second-placed National Awakening Party (PKB) in the vote
tally, but were tied in the race for House seats, with 28 each.

A PDI Perjuangan source said it would have to consider the
level of its popular support before accepting any coalition
proposal.

Golkar's chief treasurer Fadel Muhammad said on Thursday a
Golkar-PDI Perjuangan pact would be an ideal coalition to form a
new government.(prb/45/imn)