Mahfud MD: A simple man in a complicated job

Mahfud MD: A simple man in a complicated job

By Asip Agus Hasani

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense, designate, Muhammad
Mahfud MD is known to be frank and forthright and, indeed, he
recognizes the shortcomings he will bring to the new discipline
the President has chosen for him.

Mahfud goes so far as to pledge his resignation if he fails to
live up to expectations.

The academician and constitutional law expert honestly admits
that the field of defense is new to him, and somewhat alien.

"I was aware that I was not the most suitable to perform the
job, even before there was public criticism of Gus Dur's decision
to pick me as defense minister," Mahfud said referring to the
barrage of criticism against his appointment including from
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and Gadjah Mada
University observer Afan Gaffar.

Such was his surprise, that Mahfud recalled when he initially
spoke to President Abdurrahman Wahid, he thought he had been
offered the post of agrarian affairs minister.

"I thought Gus Dur was saying 'Menteri Pertanahan' (instead of
Pertahanan)," Mahfud remarked during an interview with The
Jakarta Post at his modest house in Maguwohardjo, Sleman, about
three kilometers north of Yogyakarta city center.

"I even had to ask the President to repeat which ministry he
meant."

"After Gus Dur repeated that it was the Ministry of Defense, I
immediately told him I was not the right person to lead the
ministry," he said.

However, during the conversation the President convinced
Mahfud that he could handle the job and he was the person
Abdurrahman was seeking.

Being a Madurese is probably one reason for his frankness.

Born in Sampang, Madura island, on May 13, 1957. His father,
Mahmoddin, 74, is a retired civil servant who worked at a sub-
district office, and his mother Siti Khatidjah, 65, is a
housewife.

Mahfud married his university sweetheart, Zaizatun Nihayati,
41, in 1982. They were both studying at the Faculty of Law at the
Indonesian Islamic University (UII) in Yogyakarta.

The couple have three children -- M. Ikhwan Zein, Vina Amalia
and Royhan Akbar. The eldest is in senior high school, while the
youngest two are in fourth and third grade.

Mahfud's alma mater remains an important focus of his career.

He entered UII in 1975, then continued with postgraduate
studies at Gadjah Mada University, receiving his doctorate in
1993.

Since then he has returned to serve and teach at UII, reaching
the post of deputy rector of the university and director of the
postgraduate program while also teaching at several other
institutions.

In January he was appointed as an expert staff member to the
ministry of human rights affairs.

Resignation

Recognizing his limitations in the defense field, Mahfud is
not shy to declare that he will be ready to resign in three
months if he is judged unable to perform his tasks.

"That is my personal political promise!," Mahfud asserted.

"It's not that I would refuse to assist President Abdurrahman
Wahid and Ibu Megawati, but I am making this pledge because I do
not wish to increase their burdens due to my incompetence".

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that he will be able to
carry out the responsibility handed to him.

Mahfud revealed that a priority assignment from the President
is to draft a legal framework for the military, that
strategically positions the institution in a modern, democratic
state structure.

In other words, Mahfud says, the military is no longer to be
involved in politics.

Mahfud concedes this will be no easy feat, as the military has
historical claims of its own which can justify its presence in
politics.

He said this situation was compounded further during the New
Order regime that approbated the domination of the military over
civilians in various sectors.

"Since then the ideal of a professional military has become
exorbitant".

According to Mahfud one of the difficulties in repositioning
the military has been due to their involvement in business
activities that are a major source of non-budgetary income.

Mahfud pointed out another hurdle he will have to overcome:
the different cliques within the Indonesian Military (TNI) which
have made it hard to sufficiently "communicate" the reform agenda
as it applies to repositioning the military's political role.

"Quite honestly, in my opinion, there are still many groups
within TNI which do not accept the reform agenda," he remarked.

Mahfud claims not to have any special relationships with high-
ranking TNI officers who could possibly smooth his way.

"My hope is that my (neutral) relationship, which is neither
near nor far (from TNI), will actually help me and make me closer
to all sides".

"With the help of Pak Susilo (Bambang Yudhoyono) and Adm.
Widodo I can hopefully forge a consensus within TNI," he said
referring to the designated Coordinating Minister for Political,
Social and Security Affairs and the TNI chief.

Politics

While Mahfud is not officially affiliated with any political
party, he acknowledges that by nature he cannot be separated from
either Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) or Muhammadiyah.

He said he was born and bred in an area that remains a strong
NU base.

And since moving to Yogyakarta to study, he has become
increasingly influenced by Muhammadiyah.

"My heart and blood is NU, but my thinking is Muhammadiyah,"
he remarked.

It was due to his education in Yogyakarta that he became well
acquainted with Amien Rais, who is also chairman of the National
Mandate Party.

Mahfud is a member of the Center of Strategy and Policy
Studies which Amien established.

It was through this connection that Mahfud was assigned to
help draft PAN's platform as head of the legal and justice
department in the party.

"But I resigned a few months after the party's declaration in
February 1999, after a government ruling was issued banning civil
servants from sitting as executives in political parties".

Mahfud stresses that his selection as a minister was not based
on party politics, particularly PAN.

He further refutes suggestions that he was picked to represent
the United Development Party (PPP) as he was proposed by party
chairman Hamzah Haz.

"I was proposed by PPP in my capacity as a non-partisan
professional," he asserted while adding that PPP also proposed
three other persons who were affiliated with the party.

When asked to comment about the new Cabinet, Mahfud was
sanguine, saying it could last till 2004.

"How long the Cabinet will last depends on how the President
and Vice President can build unity between their ministers. On
the other hand ministers should not be burdened by separate
interests".

"I will pro-actively approach Ibu Mega. That is my job and I
am confident we can communicate with each other even though she
may have different political views," Mahfud said.