Megawati advised to show more wisdom

JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid has advised poll winner Megawati Soekarnoputri to refrain from openly criticizing political figures, including President B.J. Habibie, lest it upset the ongoing process of political reconciliation.

"All the criticisms that she delivered in her speech were good, but it would be better if she showed more wisdom and mercy, including toward Habibie," said the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, was referring to the political speech that his protege delivered on July 29. In her speech, Megawati said the results of the June 7 polls demonstrated a no-confidence vote for Habibie's administration.

Megawati also recommended Habibie, as the leader of a transitional government, refrain from making strategic decisions without consulting her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) which won 33.7 percent of the vote.

"It would be better if we press for reform ... without disparaging others," Abdurrahman, whose National Awakening Party (PKB) took third place in the polls, was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.

Megawati's address was praised by many political analysts, including leading political scientist Mochtar Pabottingi, who said the event reaffirmed her position as a reform leader.

"(The speech) is a plus point for her, PDI Perjuangan and the reform movement," he said on Saturday. "This affirmation will be useful in strengthening ties between reform groups such as the National Mandate Party (PAN) and PKB."

Mochtar, a senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), suggested Abdurrahman Wahid and PAN chairman Amien Rais support Megawati's presidential bid.

Criticism of the speech has also come from various quarters, including Amien, whose party came fifth in the elections.

From the Central Java capital of Semarang, Amien said on Saturday Megawati's speech was "quite good", but that it also reflected her arrogance. He described Megawati's stance on Habibie as "overly threatening" for the requirements of good conduct necessary in a democracy.

Amien suggested Megawati follow up on her policy address. "I just hope that after this, Megawati will really go out there and meet the public and students and talk to non-governmental organization activists, journalists, businesspeople and the foreign community... If she did this, I would be very happy because the presidential candidate that won the most votes showed her willingness to listen to people's aspirations."

A harsher reaction came from Muslim leader Ahmad Syafii Maarif, chairman of the second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah. He said he personally did not support Megawati's presidential bid, citing his lack of faith in her capabilities.

Syafii, speaking on Saturday at a regular discussion held by The Jakarta Post in Yogyakarta, said if the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) elected Megawati as president he would respect the decision.

However he added: "I would probably resign from my position as chairman of Muhammadiyah" because (her election to the presidency) could mean continued contact with her. "This I would not be able to bear," Syafii said.

"Megawati has yet to be tested... she has not even made a commitment to correct the mistakes of the previous presidents, including her own father (founding president) Sukarno.

"Gender is not an issue for me... it was her statement in an interview with a foreign magazine that if she was elected she would revive her father's teachings... that's what rankled me."

The axis force

Following the announcement of the provisional poll results, which showed the ruling Golkar Party tailing PDI Perjuangan, expressions of support for either Megawati or Habibie have become so marked that concerns have been raised about its polarizing effect on the public.

In an attempt to break this struggle for the presidency, Amien Rais recently introduced a new political alliance, the "axis force", that has received the support of Islamic parties, including the United Development Party (PPP), fourth overall in the polls.

Amien said the alliance was meant to introduce equilibrium into the current political configuration, and to introduce alternative presidential candidates.

Mochtar Pabottingi, however, suggested that Amien should withdraw from the new alliance, which he said was dominated by the PPP. "In the axis force, Hamzah Haz (the chairman of PPP) is the dominant figure. Amien does not have a decisive role, and it would harm him and PAN if he stayed there.

"PAN should instead concentrate on preparing itself for the next elections," he said.

Political expert Pratikno from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, however, said he did not believe the new alliance had enough power to push for an alternative presidential candidate.

"The axis force would merely become a group that lobbies the two competing sides (Megawati's and Habibie's), rather than introducing a new candidate," Pratikno said. "The alliance was formed merely to buy (the involved parties) leverage during political bargaining.

"Let's be realistic, Megawati still enjoys the most public support," he said.

Ahmad Syafii Maarif also believed the axis would eventually side with Habibie in the presidential race, if the latter's accountability of his tenure in the coming MPR session was accepted by the people's representatives.

Other speakers at the discussion held by the Post were constitutional law expert M. Mahfud MD of the Indonesian Islamic University and anthropologist PM Laksono of Gadjah Mada University. Both responded favorably to the new alliance.

"It's not meant to block Megawati's presidential bid," Mahfud said. "It's a legal and constitutional campaign... and it should press forward with an alternative presidential candidate." (23/44/swe)