Mega's poor leadership leaves nation in uncertainty
Muhammad Nafik The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The poor leadership displayed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri in running the country, particularly the national war on terrorism, has left the nation without hope for a better future, say analysts.
Analysts and legislators critical of Megawati's administration said over the weekend that it was inconceivable for the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to unseat her as the move would only risk setting back efforts to improve national stability.
They were pessimistic about Megawati's leadership considering that the House of Representatives and other relevant agencies have also lost credibility as effective pressure bodies due to their own vested political interests.
In addition, from the beginning Megawati has shown a lack of vision, intellectuality and leadership in running the crisis- battered country, they told The Jakarta Post separately.
"I don't have an answer to this problem. To replace the President is not possible despite the fact that we have lost hopes for a better future," Daniel Sparingga, a senior lecturer with Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java.
"The best option might be to leave it (the uncertainty) until after the 2004 election. It's not fair actually for the nation as a whole but it is the best we can do," he added.
Megawati has come under mounting criticism for what analysts call her poor leadership in dealing with the devastating Bali bombings and cracking down on terrorism.
Critics say the President, currently in Mexico to attend the APEC meeting, should have been on full alert at home to coordinate efforts to solve the Bali tragedy and root out terrorists at large across the country.
Megawati's poor leadership was blamed on the lack of coordination between the Cabinet, the intelligence, police and military authorities in their efforts to combat terrorism, including the Bali bombing.
Calls were mounting for Indonesians not to keep Megawati and other top national leaders in power after the 2004 elections for failing to perform well in running the country.
"The President's privilege is at stake now," Daniel said, commenting on her poor leadership in settling the issue of international terrorism.
Another political observer Bachtiar Effendi concurred, saying: "The current situation is similar to that of the time before former president Abdurrahman Wahid was ousted (in July 2001). But the difference is that the situation is idle with everybody only waiting for the 2004 elections".
Bachtiar nevertheless said legislators would certainly avoid political maneuvers against Megawati in a bid to preserve the respective interests of the national elite.
"Currently, we are held hostage by rivalry between members of the political elite ... There is no hope for achieving a good future.
Meanwhile, Effendy Choirie, a senior legislator of the National Awakening Party (PKB), urged the House to summon Megawati as she has failed to carry out her job satisfactorily in leading the antiterrorist campaign.
"I have made such a request during the last meeting of House faction leaders, but House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and his deputy A. M. Fatwa and others rejected it," he added.
"As President, Megawati should show her vision, intellectuality and leadership, or otherwise we need to summon her to take responsibility for the situation," Effendy said.
He, Daniel and Bachtiar warned that unless Megawati moved swiftly to boost her leadership in the drive against terrorism, it could be a serious hurdle in retaining power after the next elections.
To reduce damage caused by her poor leadership, Megawati's aides should start "putting pressure" on her to take decisions they consider effective and proper, said Daniel and Bachtiar.
"It is no longer sufficient for only Cabinet members to provide her with inputs. They have to impose collective pressure on the President to do her job well," Bachtiar said.
"Ministers should be persistent with Megawati to make sure that her leadership is effective," Daniel added.