Megawati 'would be better' than Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed confidence on Wednesday that Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would be a better leader than incumbent President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Speaking to journalists in his office, Amien assured that Megawati would learn from Abdurrahman's mistakes and would listen to her advisors carefully to deal with the country's myriad of problems.

"Insya Allah (God willing) she will be a better leader (than Abdurrahman). I expect Mbak Mega would not repeat the mistakes made by Gus Dur, especially in carrying out the reform agenda," he added.

Amien said that Gus Dur had not honored the political compromise made among the leaders before he was elected president. Gus Dur had also failed to curb corruption, collusion and nepotism, and had failed to maintain the supremacy of the law and security for all citizens, he said.

Megawati had gained support from more parties in the country following the memorandum of censure against Abdurrahman issued by the House of Representatives (DPR) for his alleged role in two financial scandals.

Amien, with his "Axis Force" loose coalition, nominated Abdurrahman in the 1999 presidential election, competing against Megawati, whose Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the general election.

At the time, many Islamic-based political parties and organizations, except the largest one, the Nahdlatul Ulama, rejected the idea of a woman president.

Amien underlined on Wednesday that the Axis Force now sincerely supported Megawati to lead the country.

"Some of the ulemas have stated that it would be OK to have a woman president in an 'emergency' situation. Besides, it is mentioned in the Islamic holy Koran that man and woman are equal in the eyes of Allah," he conceded.

Separately, State Minister of Women's Empowerment/chairwoman of the National Family Planing Board Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Wednesday that political maneuvers by several Islamic factions to support Megawati "must be observed carefully".

"This is all politics. And any such motion is actually normal in a country that is going through the transition to democracy.

"I believe she (Megawati) will stick to the Constitution and will be very cautious in responding to such support, especially when the supporting groups opposed her in the 1999 race," Khofifah said.

State Minister of Research and Technology Muh. A.S. Hikam separately told The Jakarta Post that Megawati was being lured by Abdurrahman's opponents.

"They (Gus Dur's political rivals) have misread Megawati. It is true that she is facing a tough time with factions within PDI Perjuangan and this situation is being manipulated by the President's opponents. But I think she will uphold the Constitution," Hikam said.

Meanwhile, a Makassar-based sociologist said on Wednesday that Megawati lacked the confidence to become president, despite the opportunity facing her.

M. Darwis of Hasanuddin University in Makassar told the Post that Megawati had too often allowed her emotions to rule her.

"She must be more rational in facing Abdurrahman, or she will be (politically) abused. She has the opportunity to become the next president as the image of the incumbent, President Abdurrahman Wahid, is at its lowest point. It's time for Megawati to take the presidential seat.

"If she just keeps silent, President Abdurrahman will always claim that she supports him. Never expect Abdurrahman to quit. That will never happen. It's now or never.

"Mega need not worry about being upset (by secret opponents) in the future, if she performs well. It's time for her to prove her capability," said Darwis.

"Legally, she is the safest choice. It's better for the country to be led by her than to be under military rule.

"Megawati must take this opportunity, otherwise things could backfire on her. The people will accuse her of having no public responsibility. Her popularity would fade and she would have big problems." (dja/edt/27/sur)