Habibie set for dialog with Emil -- at the right time

Habibie set for dialog with Emil -- at the right time

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie welcomed yesterday senior economist Emil Salim's offer
for a dialog on economic issues, but said it was unfeasible at
present as the country was preparing for the General Session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Habibie said before a cabinet meeting on development
supervision at Merdeka Selatan Vice Presidential Palace that the
nation should concentrate on the five-yearly session which is
scheduled to begin on March 1.

"I welcome any ideas which are beneficial to our development
programs, and we have a democratic mechanism under the guidance
of Pancasila (the state ideology)," he said.

"We have been preparing for the session not for the past three
months but at least the past five years. There are only a few
days left before it is upon us," Habibie added.

Habibie, who has gained unanimous support from all the
Assembly's factions for the vice presidency, was commenting on
Emil's proposal to hold a dialog on economic development in the
wake of the financial crisis.

A former minister of environment and one of the New Order's
founding fathers, Emil made the headlines alongside Habibie after
he announced his bid for the vice presidency. No factions in the
Assembly have supported it but a group of senior national
figures, including noted economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, have
backed Emil.

He admitted Monday he was well aware that his chances of being
elected vice president were slim, but said that his prime
intention was not to clinch the seat, but to set an example of
how the principles of democracy should be exercised and
respected.

Habibie hinted yesterday that Emil did not deserve the
opportunity to stand for the second top post because of the
absence of support from the Assembly factions.

"His (Emil's) nomination has been discussed by Golkar as well
as other political organizations. We already know the outcome and
we must accept it if we wish to abide by the democratic
mechanism," Habibie said.

Deputy Assembly speaker Abdul Gafur shared Habibie's view,
saying that Emil's vice presidency bid was impossible because all
five factions in the Assembly had already named Habibie as their
sole candidate.

However, Gafur praised Emil's bid as an enhancement of the
nation's political education.

Another deputy Assembly speaker, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, said
Emil's chances of success were slim because he made his bid
outside the formal political system.

He doubted that the growing support for Emil in the past few
days would be significant enough to change the Assembly's mind.

Support continued to come in for Emil yesterday, despite his
unrealistic bid, this time from State Minister of Environment
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.

Sarwono said after a discussion at Sunda Kelapa Mosque that
Emil's decision to stand for the vice presidency should give the
country's future leaders a moral lesson.

"This nation is in need of moral leadership, that is always
committed to complying with moral values. Emil represents the
nation's longing for a figure who has a clean record," Sarwono
said.

Sarwono said the economic agony the country was currently
suffering was the result of the moral decadence of both the
government and businesspeople.

"If we fail to choose honest leaders, I'm afraid the crisis
will last for one or two generations," Sarwono warned.

He said he would not join the campaign for Emil's nomination
but would be ready to defend Emil should he face political
consequences for his move.

Former minister of home affairs Rudini suggested that people
refrain from opposing or being suspicious of Habibie's
nomination.

"We'd rather give him (Habibie) a chance. I think many of us
have not yet seen all his leadership capabilities," Rudini said
in Bandung.

Rudini said Habibie was a man of brilliant intelligence with a
worldwide reputation, thanks to his mastery of advanced
technology.

"But we need a leader who manages to unite the nation, and the
figure is President Soeharto," he said. (43/har/byg/prb/amd)