Megawati backed to be President

JAKARTA (JP): Political support for Megawati Soekarnoputri to become president crystallized here on Friday as leading figures from the Muslim parties, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) met to smooth the way for her possible accession.

It is unclear whether a political deal was struck at the meeting which was also attended by Vice President Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, but later on it became clear that the likelihood of a possible Megawati presidency was on the participants' minds.

"I guess the people of this nation should mentally prepare themselves to face another change of national leadership," National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais said after the meeting.

Amien, who is also speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, refused to elaborate further saying only that there was an "unspoken conclusion" at the meeting that if a change of leadership were to take place, it should be conducted in a prudent and constitutional manner.

Others attending the 1.5-hour meeting included Pramono Anung and Sophan Sophiaan of PDI-Perjuangan, Hatta Rajasa of PAN, Ade Komaruddin and Mahadi Sinambela of the Golkar Party, Justice Party chairman Hidayat Nurwahid, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz and secretary general Ali Marwan Hanan, and M.S. Ka'ban, Sahal S. Hasan and Eggi Sudjana of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB).

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung was with the group during Friday prayers but afterwards left to attend another engagement.

This latest meeting was the second time these politicians have met together. Last week they also gathered to attend Friday prayers, but did not hold discussions afterwards.

No one would go into the details of the latest meeting which they described as a brotherly gathering, however hints as to its purport were abundant.

A major breakthrough at the meeting was the apparent overcoming of the most significant objection expressed by the Islamic parties after Megawati's presidential nomination in 1999: that fact that she was a woman.

"Muslim people would never have a problem with a female leader, particularly if she were Muslim too," Justice Party chairman Hidayat Nurwahid.

"Since Mega is a true Moslem, we do not see any problem in supporting her to replace Gus Dur," Hidayat said referring to President Abdurrahman Wahid by his nickname.

PPP's Ali Marwan argued that their past resistance to Megawati during the presidential election in October 1999 was solely due to the intense competition at the time.

Prior to Friday prayers, Amien Rais further cozied up to PDI Perjuangan, saying that the nationalist parties were also religious.

Hidayat, however, also stressed that the meeting was not aimed at toppling Abdurrahman and had not ended in an agreement to support a particular successor to him.

"It was only a gathering to share ideas in order to give this nation hope," Hidayat said.

Hamzah Haz, nevertheless, asserted that if Abdurrahman were to resign, PPP would support Megawati.

When pressed whether these parties would eventually withdraw their support from Megawati, like they did with Abdurrahman, Hamzah said the (Muslim) parties agreed not to repeat "the bad experience".

"Rather than garnering political support, Gus Dur has ostracized his supporters...I suggest Megawati establish a political power base by involving every political element, in contrast to Gus Dur who failed to do so," Hamzah remarked.

Separately, criticism of Abdurrahman continued to further undermine his beleaguered presidency.

Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid said Abdurrahman could never become a "great president" since he only possessed "charisma and good luck."

Leaders also needed vision, commitment, and the ability to implement their vision and build a consensus among the people.

Akbar Tandjung warned that since there had been no improvement in the government's performance, the possibility of a second memorandum "is wide open" despite the fact Abdurahhman still has nearly two months to reply to the first memorandum.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), clearly ruffled by the Friday meeting, issued a statement later in the afternoon which suggested that the recent developments were tantamount to initiating a constitutional coup.

Separately in Semarang, political observer from Diponegoro University, Tri Cahyo Utomo, said that Megawati's recent statement that her support for the President was based solely on the exigencies of her office, was a warning for Abdurrahman to improve his performance.

Another political observer, Fitriyah said Megawati's statement showed that Abdurrahman had lost his legitimacy.

"The political impact of her statement is that the memorandum of censure process will continue," she remarked. (dja/har/02)