Leaders must focus on one job

The inauguration of Malam Sambat (MS) Kaban -- the forestry minister in the present cabinet -- as chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) on June 12 has created yet another minister who also holds a political party leader's post, like Vice President Jusuf Kalla who is now also chairman of the Golkar Party.

This pattern of electing a president, vice president, or a minister to a top post of a political party is of course not wrong. Party members will consider that their political parties will be given good exposure given the position of their leaders. They also think that by having a president, vice president, or minister as their party leader, their long-term goal of securing the country's top job will ensure. However, this is not always true.

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri held the position as the president, while retaining the position as leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Her concentration was divided between ruling the country and her party. It certainly made her three-year term of government less than optimal, and burning issues such as eradication of corruption, illegal logging, illegal fishing, etc. were not resolved.

It would be wise to keep in every leader's mind the suggestion by former foreign minister Roeslan Abdul Gani ("Cak Roes") that the ideal leader of a country should behave as a statesman, and be capable of managing the country. He quoted former British prime minister Winston Churchill as saying, "When my loyalty to my country begins, my loyalty to my party ends", otherwise, we will tear our country down ourselves from within (Media Indonesia, June 6).

M. RUSDI, Jakarta