Habibie struggles to find his footing in presidency

Habibie struggles to find his footing in presidency

By Kornelius Purba

JAKARTA (JP): If one is a new head of state who takes office
amid shouts of "lack of legitimacy" or even "a mere extension of
the old regime", what should one do to find one's footing?

For President B.J. Habibie, the answer is obviously not to
resign, as thousands of students and detractors have demanded.
Instead, he has forged ahead full steam, while managing to find
small ways in which to keep his balance.

"He only keeps Rp 2 million from his monthly salary for
himself, and donates the rest to us. He also often shares his
favorite ice cream and chocolate bars with us," a palace official
says about the President.

"One of our duties is to hide his favorite chocolate because
Ibu Habibie is very concerned with his health while Bapak likes
it very much," another palace official said recently.

The President reportedly told palace officials he made do with
his savings and the royalties he receives from his patented
inventions.

No official data is available about his salary as president,
but his predecessor Soeharto officially made Rp 15 million per
month. Of course, there are observers who, armed with data from
various sources, could convince many people that Habibie and his
family have a business empire.

The serious question of his personal wealth aside, it is to
Habibie's credit that the Presidential Guards, who appeared tough
and rigid under Soeharto, now appear more relaxed and friendly.

Habibie has asked them not to shout, and to smile every time
they report to him.

His aides say Habibie's first challenge as president came not
from the students or opposition leaders, but a parking attendant
at Tanah Kusir public cemetery in South Jakarta.

For years, Habibie has visited his parents' graves there every
month. He would give small change to beggars there, and a high
parking fee to the attendant.

"Now I have become president and he has still has the guts to
collect a parking fee from me," Habibie half complained when he
went there soon after he replaced Soeharto in May.

He recently told his ministers and senior government officials
to wear the traditional peci cap at Cabinet meetings.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin burst into laughter during a
meeting in Kuala Lumpur last month, when Habibie said the cap
helped him hide his receding hairline.

Journalists who cover the palace often smile when he asks
them: "Did you miss me?"

Advantages

What are Habibie's strong points compared to his predecessor
Soeharto?

"As a reputable scientist, he has a comprehensive
understanding of globalization. He is also more democratic,
warmer and has less links with the military's past records," says
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, his longtime advisor.

Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is reportedly impressed
with Habibie's stamina in giving lengthy explanations about his
visions and his in-depth knowledge of Japan's economy. They met
in Kuala Lumpur last month and in Hanoi earlier this month.

What are his shortcomings?

"His past record, especially in high-cost technology, is not
very impressive. And it is difficult to expect him to be tough on
Soeharto," says a former senior official who knows much about
Habibie.

Palace officials, however, gave several examples of how
different Habibie is from Soeharto.

Soeharto used to put his hand higher than his guests' hands
when he shook hands with them, so they were forced to bend
forward no matter how slightly.

B.J. Habibie hugs and kisses his guests, including female
visitors.

State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah was
astonished and looked very awkward when the President kissed her
on the cheeks after installing her and other Cabinet members in
May.

Tutty, a popular Muslim preacher who is clearly uncomfortable
with such a habit, could not do much. Fortunately for her,
Habibie has not continued this tradition with her.

"He is more ready to deal with his critics, and his approach
and style seem more relaxed than those of his predecessor
Soeharto," says a Japanese diplomat of Habibie.

Similar comments have been expressed by his ministers and
guests who have had several meetings with Soeharto.

A senior minister, who worked with Habibie in Soeharto's
Cabinet, described how Habibie drastically changed after he
became president.

When he was still state minister of research and technology,
his reports at Cabinet meetings were dominated by high tech
issues such as aircraft manufacturing and other ambitious
projects.

"Now he hardly ever touches on that, his main concern is about
food, poverty and unemployment," says the minister who served in
Soeharto's Cabinet for more than 10 years.

"We can argue during a Cabinet meeting," Minister of Justice
Muladi agrees. "We can even be involved in heated debates with
him and he takes it as something that is normal," he says.

But will Habibie have the backbone to earnestly bring
Soeharto, who he often describes as a father figure to him, to
justice over his alleged abuses of power for 32 years?

Habibie is close to Soeharto but not to the latter's six
children. It is felt by some that Soeharto's children might have
found it easier to persuade Soeharto to grant them government
projects, but not to separate him from Habibie.

"As long as Pak Harto is still alive, he will remain a dilemma
for Habibie. The President will find it easier to start (legal
proceedings) with Soeharto's children," an official said last
week.