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.