Gus Dur sizes up top picks for next president

JAKARTA (JP): Who has the greatest prospects to become the country's next president? Megawati Soekarnoputri, Gen. Wiranto, Ginandjar Kartasasmita or President B.J. Habibie?

The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Abdurrahman Wahid, pondered and discussed the question yesterday when a visiting delegation from the Japan-Indonesia Parliamentary League brought up the issue.

He found faults with all four of the above names, but said that his 30 million-strong Moslem organization, the largest in the country, had promised to help Megawati in the general election next year.

"NU's support for certain candidates will depend on the result of next year's general election," he told the delegation led by chairman Taku Yamasaki at his residence in Ciganjur subdistrict, South Jakarta.

If the "coalition" between NU and Megawati, who is the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), wins the elections, "we would not choose Habibie for president," he said.

He said Habibie's administration was not serious and had been inconsistent in its response in addressing demands for reform and democratization.

"The Habibie administration has said the nation needs the help of Chinese-Indonesians to restore the economy and has urged them to return (from foreign countries where they fled following the May riots), but there are anti-Chinese ministers in his Cabinet," he charged.

"That's the reason why we find it difficult to support Habibie's administration," he added.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, refused to elaborate or mention the names of the ministers after alleging there were five who had anti-Chinese sentiments.

Regarding Megawati, he said he was not sure if he would help the popular opposition figure run for the presidency.

"I have yet to see proof of her capability to become a president, since she is still busy with conflicts in PDI," he said.

"And I promised to help her (Megawati) with her participation in the general election, but not for her presidential race," he added.

He said Megawati might find it difficult to win the support of NU backers if NU's political party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), won the next general election.

"I personally will support her, but what about other major NU ulemas?

"Most NU ulemas still believe that a woman cannot become a leader," he said.

Abdurrahman suggested that voters be allowed to decide for themselves whether Megawati was credible enough to become president.

President Habibie's administration plans to hold a general election either in May or June next year, with a presidential election to follow in December 1998.

The Japanese delegation said both Habibie and Megawati topped the list of people considered in Japan to have the best chance of becoming the next Indonesian president.

Yamasaki said the two other Indonesians considered to have a chance were Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry/Chairman of the National Development Planning Board Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto.

Abdurrahman declined to express support for either Ginandjar or Wiranto.

"Ginandjar is a good guy. The question is whether he can obtain the necessary support he needs for a presidential bid," he said.

He said Wiranto would find it difficult to win widespread public support should he wish to run for the presidency.

"Wiranto is an officer of the Armed Forces, whose image has now reached its lowest level ever in its history," he said.

Delegation members included Tsutomu Takebe, who is the league's secretary-general, and league member Kazunori Tanaka. They were accompanied by Japanese Ambassador Takao Kawakami.

The Japan-Indonesia Parliamentary League is known for its input in helping the Japanese government formulate its policies regarding Indonesia. (imn)