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)