Habibie selects Wiranto as partner

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie told Golkar leaders on Wednesday that he picked Indonesian Military chief (TNI) Gen. Wiranto to be his partner in next week's presidential and vice presidential race, especially due to the general's ethnic background and capability.

Speaking to journalists two hours after meeting with party executives at their headquarters in West Jakarta, the President pointed out he decided to choose Wiranto to balance his civilian and non-Javanese background.

Habibie said he was never considered Javanese, although his mother Tuti Marini Puspowardjojo was Javanese and his late father was Bugisnese.

"Under this era of reform, we must understand that it is better that in the duet of president and vice president, one must represent the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, the Javanese ethnic group," Habibie said by teleconference, after inaugurating Baiturrachman Mosque in his hometown of Gorontalo, South Sulawesi, from Merdeka Palace.

He was asked on Wednesday during a two-hour closed-door talk with participants of the Golkar leadership meeting to choose one of Golkar's candidates -- former coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and Gen. Wiranto -- for his running mate if he is reelected as the country's president.

"Insya Allah (God's willing), the figure who will be nominated by Golkar as vice president is General Wiranto," said the President.

The President pointed out that he needed a (military) general as his partner in leading the country for the sake of the nation's economics and development, because as a military officer, Wiranto was educated to think strategically to win wars or challenges.

"It would be difficult for me to imagine that for the next 5 years the other half of the duo in the national leadership did not have a military background," said Habibie.

The announcement of the Habibie-Wiranto presidential ticket spooked the interbank foreign exchange market, weakening the rupiah rate against the American dollar to Rp 8,275 from about Rp 7,855 on Tuesday.

The market was nervous that his partnership with General Wiranto might bolster Habibie's chance of retaining the government's top post, dealers said.

Akbar, who was elected the speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) last week, said Habibie opted for Wiranto as his partner in next week's election because the President believed Wiranto would become the latter's best partner in the race.

"From four candidates for vice president ... Pak Habibie has given his preference to General Wiranto," Akbar explained.

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Wednesday the role of TNI in support of a civilian president was crucial for Indonesia's stability.

"Clearly, for the foreseeable future, the role of TNI in support of a civilian president is crucial for Indonesia's stability," Goh said in reply to questions from The Straits Times after delivering a speech in parliament.

The Singapore leader said each of the three presidential candidates would need TNI's support, with some more than others.

"The greater the support the new president has, the less stretched the resources of TNI will be," Goh added.

Akbar, meanwhile, vowed that his party would make all out efforts to ensure Habibie and Wiranto's victory. However, he also indicated that Golkar might have to abandon them, especially if Habibie's accountability speech was rejected by the People's Consultative Assembly.

The leadership meeting, said Akbar, mandated the central executive board to take all necessary measures to cope with any emergency situation.

"When an urgent decision is required during the process of candidacy, the party chapters will recommend the central board to take the necessary steps," Akbar added.

Separately, Habibie received Wiranto and presidential hopeful Abdurrahman Wahid at his private residence in Patra Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday evening.

Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, said he did not raise the presidential election issue with Habibie and Wiranto because it was only a meeting between old friends.

"We miss each other because we have not met for a week," said Gus Dur after having dinner with Habibie and Wiranto.

Wiranto, who is also minister of defense and security, refused to make any comment and quickly rushed to his car. "Wait until tomorrow," he said before entering his car.

In Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengkubuwono expressed his disagreement with Golkar's decision to let Habibie pick the vice presidential candidate as such an action would only trigger internal conflicts within the party.

"It can backfire and plunge Golkar into trouble," said the governor.

Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Nurcholis Madjid said he was ready to be an alternative presidential candidate should the Assembly face a deadlock on the presidential election.

"Alternative means in a very distressed and uncontrolled condition," Nurcholis, also known as Cak Nur, told reporters on Wednesday.

When reporters repeated questions on his readiness to be president, Nurcholis answered, "At least, I will not run away."

Nurcholis held his stance that a candidate of the party with the most votes should get first chance to be president and take the first initiative.

The Megawati Soekarnoputri-led Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the most votes with 153 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR). "Unfortunately, Megawati didn't take any initiative," Nurcholis said, adding that some of his friends from PDI Perjuangan felt disappointed with her passivity.

Nurcholis also acknowledged that there was a wrong mind set. "They take it for granted that having won 33 percent of the vote is sufficient to have Megawati as president," he said. (44/05/prb/vin)