Mega's plan to skip SBY induction 'will backfire'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor

Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri's decision to skip the inauguration of her successor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will backfire and further damage her image, political analysts said on Sunday.

The move would only confirm people's perceptions Megawati did not accept her resounding defeat in the presidential election, said Azyumardi Azra, the rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN).

It would also have a negative impact on her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), he said.

"This will only put out the message that Megawati and the PDI- P are emotional and unstable. Megawati has failed to show she is a real stateswoman," Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post.

He said Megawati should act on her statement asking people to accept whoever won the Sept. 20 election. "By attending the inauguration (of her successor), she will set an example that she is ready to win or to lose."

Another analyst, Ikrar Nusa Bakti, said it might be understandable that Megawati felt betrayed by Susilo because he had not informed her of his planned presidential bid while in her Cabinet.

Susilo was the coordinating minister for political and security affairs in Megawati's government. He stepped down in March, only several days before announcing his plan to challenge her in the presidential elections.

However, Ikrar said Megawati could make things worse if she did not attend the ceremony.

"If she attends the swearing in of Susilo, it will add her credit as a stateswoman," he said as quoted by detik.com.

At his private Puri Cikeas residence in Bogor, West Java, president-elect Susilo said on Sunday he was still seeking a meeting with Megawati ahead of his inauguration on Oct. 20.

Susilo said he had three times offered to hold talks with Megawati after he was officially named the election's winner but she had not responded.

"I have set up a team to deal with this matter during the transitional period. I also sent a letter to Megawati on Oct. 7 asking her to arrange a meeting with me, but it is still fruitless," he said.

Susilo said many people told him he should be proactive and visit Megawati. "Indeed, I want to, and now I leave it to her. All I know is the show must go on. The new administration must continue," he said.

Megawati has been widely criticized for refusing to officially concede defeat or meet with Susilo to discuss the transition, although she has made a public statement asking the people to accept the poll's winner.

Analyst Ichlasul Amal, meanwhile, said it was not uncommon in other countries for outgoing presidents to miss the inauguration of their successors.

"If we consider the United States, there is no such kind of tradition there. Outgoing presidents do not necessarily attend the inauguration of presidents-elect," he told the Post.

Ichlasul said the Oct. 20 event was not a transfer of power but a swearing-in ceremony, so there was no need for Megawati's presence.

"The most important thing is that Megawati congratulates Susilo on his victory," he said.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Agnita Singadikane Irsal denied Megawati was upset or angry with Susilo.

"The reason for not attending the ceremony is simply because there is no obligation to do so. With or without the incumbent president the ceremony will go ahead," she told the Post.

Agnita said Megawati was only angry with some of her PDI-P central board members, who she accused of jumping ship to support Susilo.

When asked about the plan of founding president Sukarno's family to meet Susilo, Agnita said as far as she knew the discussions about the matter had ended.

Megawati's brother, Guruh Soekarnoputra, had earlier visited Susilo and discussed plans for a possible gathering between the president-elect and Sukarno's family, including Megawati.