Habibie's nomination could backfire on Golkar: Experts
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party's decision to name B.J. Habibie as a prospective presidential candidate is likely to backfire for the country and its own political fortunes, observers concluded on Thursday.
Gadjah Mada University political scientist Riswandha Imawan said Habibie's nomination would cost Golkar -- newly relaunched as a party from its former status as functional group -- its painstaking efforts to make amends for past faults.
Sutradara Gintings, chief of the Institute for Policy and Community Development Studies, warned that growing conflicts would follow if Habibie stayed on for a full five-year term.
Meanwhile, acting chairman of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) Achmad Tirtosudiro said the organization did not object to Golkar's selection of Habibie. However, he insisted ICMI would not join forces with Golkar in campaigning for Habibie because it was not a political party, Antara reported.
Riswandha told The Jakarta Post and Bernas in Yogyakarta that Golkar, whose popularity has waned since the fall of president Soeharto, its chief patron, last year, would be unable to restore the public's faith if it stuck to the Habibie nomination.
"Habibie is beyond all doubt always linked to Soeharto and the New Order regime. It's highly unlikely to expect changes in Golkar if it fails to make a break with the past," Riswandha said.
Habibie, Soeharto's final vice president, took over after the latter resigned following tumultuous student rallies against him in May last year.
On Wednesday, Golkar selected five presidential candidates, with Habibie, as expected, topping the list. It set an indefinite date for the announcement of its final choice, although it looks likely to come after the June 7 general election.
Riswandha said Habibie would only find himself in troubled water if he accepted Golkar's support because of "silent rivalry" with the party's chairman Akbar Tandjung. Akbar has rejected Golkar's nomination.
"It's like a bus driven by Akbar, with Habibie among people on board. If there is something wrong with the bus, Akbar can ask everybody, including Habibie, to get off," Riswandha said.
Unqualified
Gintings said Habibie, who also served a Cabinet minister under Soeharto, was not fitting for the top executive position because he lacked statesmanship and consistency in his policies.
He also cited controversy concerning his appointment as Soeharto's successor, which was not the result of a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session.
"Anyone who is elected the next president will take on uphill challenges in the first two years of his or her term. How can Habibie lead the nation through the troubles if it's proven that he made no betterment of the country in nine months of his assignment."
Although he praised Habibie for assuring greater freedom of the press, he faulted his presidential tact.
"His unprecedented unveiling of troop deployments by (then chief of Army Strategic Reserves Command) Prabowo Subianto on the first day of his rule and his alleged phone conversation with Attorney General Andi Ghalib reflect the lack of wisdom," Gintings said, adding that such an attitude endangered national unity.
He added the government's stance on East Timor and the delayed liquidation plan of ailing banks created public confusion.
"It's better for Habibie to refuse the nomination, unless the nation will see another president going out in disgrace. Habibie would be remembered as a respected hero in the nation's history if he declines the candidacy."
Gintings suggested Golkar pick figures with wide-ranging acceptability. He cited appropriate presidential candidates as noted economist Emil Salim, National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais, National Awakening Party patron Abdurrahman Wahid, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and former vice president Try Sutrisno. (44/amd)