Habibie's nomination could backfire on Golkar: Experts
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)