I'm not ambitious to become president, says Megawati
I'm not ambitious to become president, says Megawati
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri affirmed on Sunday
her readiness to lead the country as mandated by the party.
Speaking to tens of thousands of her supporters in Malang,
East Java, through a teleconference facility from her residence
in Central Jakarta, Megawati reiterated that it was not her
personal ambition to become president.
"The last two party congresses -- the highest organ of the
party -- in Bali and Semarang (Central Java) both mandated me to
become president.
"The reality is that I have no ambition to become president
except so as to fulfill the party's mandate," Megawati told the
crowd clad in red to mark the party's 28th anniversary.
Vice President Megawati is widely expected to take over the
presidency from President Abdurrahman Wahid within months as the
President moves closer to impeachment following the issuance of
two memorandums of censure against him by the House of
Representatives for corruption and incompetence.
As the largest party in the country, PDI Perjuangan played a
pivotal role in the issuance of both censures.
Megawati's approval for her party to support the two censures
of the President has been viewed by many as part of her moves to
take over the presidency from the embattled Abdurrahman, her
long-time friend.
Megawati had been scheduled to address the rally in person but
canceled the engagement at the last minute because of fluid
political developments in the capital following persistent rumors
that the President would issue a presidential edict dissolving
the House and calling a snap election.
In her 25-minute speech, Megawati also rejected suggestions of
holding such a snap election, saying that it would only prolong
the political uncertainty in the country.
"The bringing forward of the general election is not the way
to solve the current political problems as it would only prolong
the uncertainty and be detrimental to the public," she asserted.
Megawati, in her speech, also rebuked members of the political
elite who could not guard their tongues and refrain from making
contentious remarks that were only provoking conflict among the
people.
"So now, let us think about it, who are the people who keep
talking, confusing the public and bringing chaos to the whole
country?" she asked.
She also urged her supporters to refrain from violence and
avoid all kinds of anarchic actions against other groups as
"unity will be the best way to lead the country out of the
current crisis."
"Before we ask other groups to join hands with us, we should
consolidate ourselves so as to find solutions to the country's
problems. Without unity, it will be very difficult for us to get
out of the current mess," she remarked. (dja)