Nomination of Gus Dur unreal

Nomination of Gus Dur unreal

From Rakyat Merdeka

The nomination of Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, as the next president by the axis force is unreal as it has never been a fact. What has been persistently said in public about this matter is only the personal opinion of Amien Rais, which is not that of all the parties making up the axis force. Even the National Mandate Party (PAN) itself as an institution has never made an official statement about this and neither has it canceled its presidential nomination of Amien Rais.

It is strange indeed to see that someone's nomination as the next president has been supported by only one person. So, the nomination of Gus Dur as the next president is only a political maneuver, an effort to throw dust in people's eyes and an attempt to make the National Awakening Party (PKB) withdraw its support for Megawati as a presidential candidate.

Amien Rais's statement that he supports Gus Dur 100 percent should be doubted. If Amien is right and sincere, why has he never given his support officially on behalf of PAN? Also, it is strange why Amien Rais has never seen to it that the axis force unanimously and officially nominates Gus Dur as the next president. See how smart and cunning Amien Rais is when he says that the nomination of Megawati as the next president by PKB is not an official decision of PKB while in fact he is not himself in the leadership or even part of PKB.

It is really regrettable that someone of Amien Rais' caliber, and a professor doctor at that, is ignorant and speaks about something beyond his domain. The statement made by PKB about its nomination of Megawati as the next president is the authority of Mr. Matori and the rest of PKB leadership. It would be better for Amien Rais to take care of PAN alone and have a forward-looking thought to ensure that in the next general election his party can garner enough votes to make him eligible for the presidential candidacy. At present, Amien Rais must bury his wish to become president because PAN has obviously failed to win the election.

Indeed, it is Amien Rais's right not to throw his support to Megawati but he should not use the "hand" of another person to express his opinion, which leads one to be suspicious whether the statements that Amien Rais has lately made are only his tricks to be able to keep the presidential seat to himself or, perhaps, to help Habibie secure and prolong his presidential seat.

IMAM

Jakarta