Mega's nomination for president

Mega's nomination for president

From Kompas

I was surprised to read reports about Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), being a presidential candidate. It was like lightening had struck at midday. If the issue came from outside the party, that is a ghastly provocation. If it was from inside the party, that is bad politics, and maybe there are PDI members who were provoked by the issue of succession. Nominating Megawati is premature, and makes her an excellent object of political gossip.

Take my advice: Don't let the issue trap you, don't react, be calm, the time will come.

True, there are many issues and political intrigues related to succession. The saying "Government by statements. Power by intrigue. Politics by issues. Democracy by jokes. Facilities by money." applies here.

It is said that Pak Harto wants Si Anu, Si Ani or Si Ina to become a presidential candidate, or a vice presidential candidate. It is said that Pak Harto wants another office term, and in the middle of the term, he will step aside. Therefore, he wants "this person" to become a vice president. These are old issues, which have been heard over the last 16 years. I don't believe in them. The source isn't Pak Harto, but is the wishful thinking of those with ambition.

I believe in what former vice president Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX told me. He said that when he was a vice president, he asked President Soeharto to prepare his successor through the vice presidency. Pak Harto's reply was more or less: This is a republic, not an empire. Therefore, there is no preparation for the replacement of the president. This depends on the people and the mechanism is there in the 1945 Constitution.

I think this is one reason why once every five years there is a new vice president.

I hope that Pak Harto will stick to his word. Leave it to the people, no engineering, so that those who have political ambition will succumb. This will secure the political stability, which has become the trademark of Pak Harto's leadership.

FRANS SEDA

Jakarta