Megawati told not to make strategic decisions

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Blitar

Political analysts urged outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri to refrain from making substantial and strategic decisions that would be binding for the new government.

In the absence of regulations to administer the transitional period after the first presidential election, the analysts said it would be better for Megawati to consult the president-elect in the case of strategic decisions needing to be made.

"She should not issue any presidential decrees, presidential instructions or other regulations that would have a direct impact on the new government," rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute Azyumardi Azra told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He suggested instead that the outgoing president facilitate a smooth transfer of power by initiating consultation with the president-elect should strategic decisions be required during transitional period.

Another analyst, Bara Hasibuan, shared the view, saying that making strategic decisions during the transitional period was prone to abuse of power in the interest of the outgoing president.

"Abuse of power during a transition occurs when, for example, the outgoing president transfers state assets, makes political deals with certain parties on behalf of the country or takes out new loans," Bara said.

He underlined that the president-elect should be awarded the authority to establish a team to discuss various issues with the outgoing president.

"The outgoing president must cooperate with the transition team and provide answers to the team in preparing for the new government," Bara said.

The General Elections Commission declared on Monday Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the winner of the Sept. 20 presidential election runoff, beating Megawati by 21 percent of the vote.

After five presidents, this is the first peaceful political transition through a democratic election since the country's independence in 1945.

Despite the democratic election, however, the country does not have any regulation to administer the transitional period after an election.

Earlier, Constitutional Court president Jimly Asshidiqqie said that legally speaking, Megawati remained the president with all her powers until the president-elect is sworn in on Oct. 20. Therefore, she has the authority to make strategic decisions.

Another analyst, Ichlasul Amal, said Megawati could issue strategic decisions only if the country faced danger, such as war or invasion.

Meanwhile, Susilo called for a smooth transition of power, saying that such an orderly transition would prevent social disruptions.

"The people have been waiting for a smooth transition of power, and we all know what the regulation says, that Ibu Megawati should transfer power to me to enable me to continue developing the country," Susilo said on the sidelines of a visit to his mother, Habibah Sukotjo, in Blitar, East Java.

"I'm worried about possible conflict among people who share different political views, if their leaders fail to behave in a proper political manner," Susilo said.

During his trip, Susilo also visited the grave of the country's founding president Sukarno, who was Megawati's father. He said the visit was part of his efforts to promote "the spirit of unity" as a new political tradition.

Asked why he visited Sukarno's tomb, Susilo replied: "I would like to introduce a proper political practice in this country, a noble political culture, which leaders must always respect."

He also plans to visit the grave of Mohammad Hatta, the country's first vice president who accompanied Sukarno in declaring Indonesia's independence in 1945.

Hatta was buried in Tanah Kusir cemetery in South Jakarta.