'Mbak' Tutut seen as unlikely VP

'Mbak' Tutut seen as unlikely VP

JAKARTA (JP): Political analyst Arbi Sanit discounted
yesterday the chances of Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President
Soeharto's eldest daughter, becoming the next vice president.

The University of Indonesia lecturer of political science told
The Jakarta Post that he could not see Hardiyanti, popularly
known as Mbak (older sister) Tutut, or any other woman gaining
the number-two position in 1998.

Given the challenges awaiting in the next century, the country
needed a strong figure with plenty of government experience to
accompany the incumbent Soeharto from 1998 to 2003, Arbi said.

"A vice president must be ready to take over the presidential
jobs anytime," he said.

Arbi was commenting on calls by some individuals and
organizations that Mbak Tutut, deputy chairwoman of the ruling
political group Golkar and a successful businesswoman, be
nominated for vice president in 1998.

"She has yet to prove her political talent," he said.

Golkar Secretary-General Ary Mardjono has said the
organization will look into the suggestion when it begins
deliberating nominations for vice president.

Apart from business and politics, the 48-year-old Mbak Tutut
is a patron of community and sports organizations. She chairs the
Indonesian Volleyball Association.

Her public profile rose this week after a series of highly
publicized meetings with supporters of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
the country's largest socioeducational Islamic organization, in
Central and East Java.

NU Chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, who accompanied her at the
meetings, described her as a "future public figure".

Arbi said he was betting on senior military officers or
government officials close to Soeharto to be the next vice
president.

"There are more deserving candidates than Mbak Tutut. She
should be given more exposure by entering the next cabinet or
House of Representatives before running for the crucial post,"
Arbi said.

He cited State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie as a strong candidate.

Other names that have cropped up include Golkar chairman and
information minister Harmoko, Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono
and Minister of Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

Soeharto is the only candidate for the presidency, despite his
remarks this week that people who nominate him should consider
his age. The President turns 76 in June.

Arbi speculated that growing demand for democracy would dent
Mbak Tutut's chances of becoming vice president, because it
smacked of nepotism.

"Democracy, as a consequence of the global changes now
sweeping the world, will discourage nepotism," Arbi said.

Nepotism was inconsistent with the objectives of the free
trade era, he said.

"Democracy is needed to sow competition within a country. This
in turn will enhance Indonesia's competitive edge," Arbi said.

The next vice president should accommodate democratic ideas,
he said. "I prefer a civilian, whom I believe would be more open
to democratic changes than a military figure."

Arbi said the public should be given some minimum assurances
from the vice presidential candidates that they nominate in 1998.
"Why don't we try to lend support to a candidate that meets a
minimum condition, say a guarantee to improve democracy," he
said.

Another condition would be a guarantee to strengthen the
People's Consultative Assembly to control the government, he
said.

A formal and more democratic process of finding future leaders
was needed, he said. A candidate had to pass leadership tests in
mass and political organizations, before moving into the nation's
elite circle. (amd)