Majority regard Soeharto as 'unbeatable': Sudomo
Majority regard Soeharto as 'unbeatable': Sudomo
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is never short of capable leaders for
the presidency, but none can match the qualities found in
incumbent President Soeharto, a former close aide said.
"I don't mean to make a cult out of Pak Harto (Soeharto), and
besides, we have the five-yearly election system, but the
majority of the people still see Pak Harto as unbeatable,"
Sudomo, currently chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, was
quoted as saying by Antara.
Sudomo, who served under Soeharto in the military and in the
cabinet, said the 74-year old President has three particular
qualities that are not found among other potential leaders.
"Pak Harto has vision. He is also responsive because that is
the way soldiers are trained -- analyze and explore before making
a decision. And he is never trapped by his own decisions. Rather,
he, along with his aides, makes sure that the decisions are put
into operation," said the retired Navy admiral.
Sudomo made the remarks in Jombang where he was attending a
graduation ceremony at the nursing school run by the Darul Ulum
pesantren (Moslem boarding school).
His remarks came as several groups in society began calling on
President Soeharto to stay at the helm after he completes his
current term in office, his sixth, in 1998.
A youth wing of the ruling political group Golkar, Generasi
Muda Gabungan Rakyat Karya Indonesia, set the ball rolling last
week by requesting Soeharto run for the 1998 presidential
election, saying that Soeharto "is still needed" by the country.
Reelection
Sudomo dismissed the suggestions that the reelection of
Soeharto as president reflects a dire shortage of figures capable
of leading the country, or that there is no political mechanism
for leadership succession.
Cabinet ministers and other senior government officials are
"cadres" whose qualities have already been assessed by the
public, he said.
"So if people vote for Pak Harto, it is not because there are
no other cadres, but rather because the majority of the people
feel that Pak Harto is still the most capable among all the
others," he was quoted as saying.
Sudomo said the remarks were purely his private opinion and
that it was not his intention to preempt the 1998 gathering of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which will elect the
next president and vice president.
Commenting on the open calls now being made by some
organizations for Soeharto to stay at the helm, Sudomo said their
demands are valid. "It's a healthy sign of democracy. Anyone can
speak out. Their calls only become questionable if they have
certain motives behind their moves," he said.
Some politicians have criticized the Golkar's youth
organization for making its call last week and pointed out that
it was inconsistent with Golkar's own leaders' past assertion
that any debate about the presidential election before the MPR
sitting is "unethical". (emb)