Husband advises Mega to step down at right time

Husband advises Mega to step down at right time

Rita Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Bali

The birthday party was lavishly held at the elegant Agung Room of
Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur, Bali, on the last day of 2002.
Around 1,000 neatly and luxuriously dressed VIP guests attended
the special birthday party of Taufiq Kiemas, the spouse of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who turned 60 on Dec. 31.

The gift for the "boy" was also special. The launching of a
biography entitled Tanpa Rakyat, Pemimpin Tak Berarti Apa Apa:
Jejak Langkah 60 Tahun Taufiq Kiemas (Without the People, A
Leader Means Nothing: A 60-Year Trace of Taufiq Kiemas), edited
by his close friend Panda Nababan.

The book reveals Taufik's private and political activities
during his 60 years of life. The book, he said before the launch,
was a criticism of himself and his wife.

As the President's husband, Taufiq, believed by many to be the
powerful man behind Megawati's policies, has cleverly warned his
dear wife to prepare for the right to step down, if possible,
after the 2004 election.

"For Mbak (affectionate term for his wife) Mega, there is no
other way to climb. The choice is to walk down. Therefore, unlike
her four predecessors, Megawati has to prepare for a strategic
and a smart way to step down from the presidency," said Taufiq
before some 1,000 guests, who included top Cabinet members,
National Police chief Dai Bactiar, Minister of Home Affairs Hari
Sabarno, noted businessmen, legislators and other important
invitees.

It was not clear if Taufik was advising Megawati not to run
for reelection in the 2004 general election, when Indonesia is
expected to hold its first-ever direct presidential election.

Megawati's Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) won almost 35 percent of the vote in the l999
election and her die-hard supporters have insisted that she will
run for the presidency in 2004.

A number of political observers believe Taufiq has his own
political agenda, while others considered the statement as
Taufiq's systematic and careful effort to create the impression
Megawati was not too ambitious to cling on to power.

Taufiq added that Megawati had always been close to her
supporters and the people.

"Please, don't keep Mbak Mega from her own people. Because she
does not mean anything without the support of the people," Taufiq
warned her Cabinet members and her close aides who were accused
of being too protective of the President.

Taufiq also thanked his 84-year-old mother Mrs. Hamzatun
Rusdja Kiemas, his wife President Megawati and his children,
families and friends for supporting him. "I am very grateful for
their love and support," Taufiq said when ending his speech
tearfully.

The birthday celebration was followed by the cutting of the
one-meter-tall delicious cake. Taufiq affectionately kissed
Megawati's forehead whose cheeks turned red.

Taufiq was the man behind several projects in Bali and
Indonesia after the tragic Bali bombing incident on Oct. 12.