Hasty succession can result in a 'bad choice'
Hasty succession can result in a 'bad choice'
JAKARTA (JP): The nation should not seek presidential
succession just for the sake of change but must ensure the right
person is chosen for the job should succession take place next
year, says political observer Nurcholish Madjid.
"Succession, should it happen next year, must be made
carefully," Nurcholish said after a discussion on modern state
administration systems Friday evening.
He said the election of a different president was a gamble and
said the capacity and credibility of the next president should be
on a par with that of the incumbent.
"Otherwise, things will never change and we might even develop
a worse situation than we have now," he said.
Nurcholish then went on to suggest the nation avoid electing a
president through appointment.
"Bai'at (Islamic word for appointment) of a leader should be
avoided," he said during the discussion.
"Especially, when the appointee is a relative of the outgoing
president."
"Bai'at should be done only with the approval of the majority
of the people," he said.
Several analysts have recently said that successful political
and economic reform cannot take place without presidential
succession.
These calls for radical reform have significantly increased in
the past few weeks as the economic turmoil persists in the wake
of the rupiah doldrums.
When asked what reforms he would like to see, Nurcholish said
freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, transparency and
consistent law enforcement and certainty were among the most
essential.
"Political freedom, transparency and legal certainty will help
enhance the people's productivity, the main ingredient for the
economic recovery," he said.
Nurcholish also said a "moral movement" was needed to
accelerate political reform.
"A moral movement, through slogans and statements, is still
needed to trigger action on reforms," he said.
Opposition
Nurcholish said there was a need for "oppositional" groups or
figures to perform the task of socially controlling the
government.
"Good governance cannot be established by relying only upon an
individual's goodness, ... social control by the people is
necessary," he said adding that oppositional groups do not have
to be large organizations.
"The most important thing is that oppositional figures have
authority among their groups' members," he explained.
Nurcholish also welcomed the Ciganjur Group which was
established Tuesday evening at the residence of Abdurrahman
Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization, which called
for solidarity among all groups to help the nation cope with the
economic crisis.
The fact that the Group consists of intellectuals and figures
from all walks of life and religions was a significant factor as
this contributed to making an organization solid, he said.
When asked about the Armed Forces (ABRI) often hard handed
"security approach" toward various social movements and groups,
Nurcholish urged ABRI to be more careful in its approach.
"The security approach should be regarded like the brakes of
an automobile," he said.
"The driver should only hit the brakes in certain conditions,
not at every single turn." (imn)
JAKARTA (JP): The nation should not seek presidential
succession just for the sake of change but must ensure the right
person is chosen for the job should succession take place next
year, says political observer Nurcholish Madjid.
"Succession, should it happen next year, must be made
carefully," Nurcholish said after a discussion on modern state
administration systems Friday evening.
He said the election of a different president was a gamble and
said the capacity and credibility of the next president should be
on a par with that of the incumbent.
"Otherwise, things will never change and we might even develop
a worse situation than we have now," he said.
Nurcholish then went on to suggest the nation avoid electing a
president through appointment.
"Bai'at (Islamic word for appointment) of a leader should be
avoided," he said during the discussion.
"Especially, when the appointee is a relative of the outgoing
president."
"Bai'at should be done only with the approval of the majority
of the people," he said.
Several analysts have recently said that successful political
and economic reform cannot take place without presidential
succession.
These calls for radical reform have significantly increased in
the past few weeks as the economic turmoil persists in the wake
of the rupiah doldrums.
When asked what reforms he would like to see, Nurcholish said
freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, transparency and
consistent law enforcement and certainty were among the most
essential.
"Political freedom, transparency and legal certainty will help
enhance the people's productivity, the main ingredient for the
economic recovery," he said.
Nurcholish also said a "moral movement" was needed to
accelerate political reform.
"A moral movement, through slogans and statements, is still
needed to trigger action on reforms," he said.
Opposition
Nurcholish said there was a need for "oppositional" groups or
figures to perform the task of socially controlling the
government.
"Good governance cannot be established by relying only upon an
individual's goodness, ... social control by the people is
necessary," he said adding that oppositional groups do not have
to be large organizations.
"The most important thing is that oppositional figures have
authority among their groups' members," he explained.
Nurcholish also welcomed the Ciganjur Group which was
established Tuesday evening at the residence of Abdurrahman
Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization, which called
for solidarity among all groups to help the nation cope with the
economic crisis.
The fact that the Group consists of intellectuals and figures
from all walks of life and religions was a significant factor as
this contributed to making an organization solid, he said.
When asked about the Armed Forces (ABRI) often hard handed
"security approach" toward various social movements and groups,
Nurcholish urged ABRI to be more careful in its approach.
"The security approach should be regarded like the brakes of
an automobile," he said.
"The driver should only hit the brakes in certain conditions,
not at every single turn." (imn)