'It's late Mega, go to sleep': Gus Dur

JAKARTA: Nobody would doubt that Megawati Soekarnoputri is an influential politician. She has been found in many surveys to be among the strongest contenders for the 1999-2004 presidency.

And yet she heeds the words of Abdurrahman Wahid, who may be her closest ally, to the point where she even acquiesced when he told her to go to bed rather than attend the signing of a joint communique of opposition parties to beat Golkar which was held in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, told a media briefing which was also attended by Amien Rais, that: "I forbade her (from coming to the signing) because it was too late.

"I told her not to come because she has to fly to Lampung early Tuesday... you know how women are... she (would need time) to put on her makeup," Abdurrahman said.

In the same briefing, Amien and Abdurrahman openly haggled for the presidency. When journalists asked whether Amien or Megawati was the better presidential candidate, Abdurrahman was silent for a moment before replying: "(the best candidate) is Abdurrahman Wahid."

Journalists then asked Amien what he would do if his National Mandate Party (PAN) lost in the election and he could only become a vice president.

Amien was quiet for a moment before saying: "I have been nominated by PAN to be number one. That's it. I'd rather become an opposition than not be number one.

"I don't want to become the second banana. We can bargain about this later on," he said.

"Right on!" Abdurrahman interjected. (edt/swe)