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

'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)