Habibie should prove his mettle, Rudini says

Habibie should prove his mettle, Rudini says

JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Rudini believes State
Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, the official
sole vice presidential candidate, needs to prove that he has the
required leadership qualities to hold the nation's second top
position.

"He needs to prove it in order to be called a statesman in a
trustworthy administration," Rudini said in a discussion marking
the launching of two books, Negarawan Masa Depan (Future State
Leaders) and Pemerintah yang Amanah (Trustworthy Government) here
yesterday.

He said that incumbent President Soeharto, who is expected to
be reelected for his seventh term in the coming General Session
of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), had proven himself
and beyond even if he did not start out as an intellectual.

"Pak Harto is not a scholar... but he is recognized and
respected because he saved the nation and the country," Rudini
said. "What's important now is that we need someone who can lead
more than we need scholars."

"It's not that I don't support Habibie, but he needs to prove
his ability," he said. "It's important to have a vice president
who masters technology but what's more important is that people
accept the person and that he can lead the nation."

Habibie is also chairman of the Association of Indonesian
Moslem Intellectuals and known for being at the forefront of the
development of high-technology industries here.

Separately yesterday, political observer Arbi Sanit discussed
how the coming General Session would be held amid growing calls
for reform. He expressed concern that the power holders' vested
interests had hampered the reform needed to end the ailing
economic and political crisis here.

He accused the power holders of seeking to maintain the status
quo not only for their own sake, but also that of their families.

The discussion was organized by Tempo Interaktif website
magazine to commemorate its second anniversary.

"Their vested interests are the root of all problems," said
Arbi, who is a staff lecturer at the University of Indonesia's
School of Social and Political Sciences.

Arbi added the government seemed to be unwilling to carry out
economic and political reforms despite unprecedented public
pressure in the past months.

"The government is being conservative, they (the officials)
appear to be very sure that whatever they are doing is right,"
Arbi said. "They have even tried to blame other people for the
crisis facing us now. They refuse to introspect."

The country is gripped by the worst economic crisis in the
history of the New Order government due to the rupiah's drastic
plunge against the U.S dollar, prompting soaring prices of basic
commodities and massive unemployment.

The skyrocketing prices has sparked riots in more than 25
towns and cities across the archipelago.

Military officers have vowed to take stern measures against
rioters and have tightened security to anticipate any
disturbances to the MPR's General Session which is due to begin
tomorrow.

Separately, the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) urged
the Assembly to demand Soeharto hold himself accountable for the
current crisis.

"The government should not only convey the success story, but
should also picture the flaws," the association said in a four-
page statement made available here yesterday.

The statement, signed by chairman Anas Urbaningrum and
secretary-general Zulkifli, also called on Soeharto to encourage
outspokenness in the Assembly.

The assembly leaders have repeatedly issued warnings to their
members against expressing dissent by interrupting the body's
General Session.

In Surabaya, 2.6 million members of the rural-based Nahdlatul
Ulama Moslem organization stated yesterday their support for the
nomination of Soeharto and Habibie. (nur/aan/byg)