Megawati will survive till 2004, Amien believes

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais said on Friday that should Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri replace Abdurrahman Wahid as President, she will survive until 2004 if she can maintain a corruption-free coalition in her cabinet.

"Insya Allah (God willing), she will be successful as president only if she can maintain a clean coalition and refuse to take after the example set by her predecessors of dismissing supporters," Amien said after paying his last respects to the late noted economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo.

Amien, also chairman of the National Mandate party (PAN), was responding to criticism of whether the Axis Force, a loose coalition of Muslim-based parties, was sincere in formulating a permanent coalition with Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in an attempt to hoist Megawati to presidency.

He said if President Abdurrahman did not ignore his obligations to fight corruption, promote the rule of law and promote national integration, as well as dismiss his coalition partners, he would be able to continue as President in peace.

Commenting on Friday's breakfast between Abdurrahman and Megawati at the latter's official residence, Amien said it was probably useful for Gus Dur to learn about the latest developments in the country.

Breakfast at Megawati's residence has become a habit of Gus Dur's, giving an impression of a close relationship between the two.

Amien, however, said that he had been informed of Megawati's determination to resist being a stooge to anyone.

"Gus Dur has often given the impression that all his decisions have been approved by Megawati and that TNI and PDI Perjuangan were behind him, though in reality, they were not," he said.

Later in the day, deputy chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Ahmad Sumargono said although there should not be a problem for Megawati to be President, members of the political elite must not put aside the fatwa (decree) that a woman could not be the nation's leader.

"What has been called haram (forbidden for Muslims) is still haram," Ahmad said to the press prior to the funeral of Soemitro at the Karet Bivak public cemetery, South Jakarta.

However, Ahmad said that during an emergency, the decree could be set aside as the public have no better choice over the nation's leadership.

"There is only Gus Dur or Mbak Mega.

"Gus Dur has failed to carry this nation out of the crisis. He is no longer a legitimate president, therefore the national leadership must be replaced," he said.

Ahmad, however, said that members of the political elite should determine the length of time this nation could be led by a woman: that is only until 2004.

Ahmad added that Megawati should formulate her Cabinet by accommodating professional people who are recommended by the political parties which will be represented in the coalition Cabinet.

He said the parties have already formulated a draft shadow cabinet during their meeting held at the Dharmawangsa Hotel in South Jakarta last Thursday night.

"The draft comprises candidates from the leading political parties -- PDI Perjuangan, Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), PAN, and the Justice Party (PK) -- according to their achievement in the 1999 general election," he said.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said on Friday that President Abdurrahman will soon submit his reply to the memorandum in an effort "to evade the image of existing disputes between executives and legislators and to speed up reconciliation (between members of the political elite)."

"Hopefully the reply, which is being prepared by Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will be endorsed during breakfast between Gus Dur and Megawati next Wednesday," Wimar said.

The first memorandum was issued by the House of Representatives on Feb. 1 which censured Abdurrahman over two financial scandals.

Separately, President Abdurrahman said on Friday that he would allow all his political opponents to continue to pressure him to resign "until they get tired of themselves".

"I will not take any action as that would only mean that I was killing the democratic process," Abdurrahman said after a Friday prayer at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta. (02/edt)