President must be given chance to improve

President must be given chance to improve

JAKARTA (JP): While calling for a tighter rein on President
Abdurrahman Wahid due to his glaring flaws which have come to the
fore in the past 10 months, scholars warned that replacing him
now would be politically more costly to the nation.

Respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid warned that there
was no guarantee Abdurrahman's alternative would be any better or
could bring about a better situation for the country.

Therefore, while finding the best way to correct a bad habit,
it would be better to give the President a chance to improve his
performance, Nurcholish said.

"In my view, the cost of accepting the current condition is
still much, much more bearable than setting a precedent that we
are not loyal to the Constitution," Nurcholish said in reference
to suggestions of possibly removing the President.

"We may have to learn to live with Gus Dur," Nurcholish said
during a discussion, held by The Jakarta Post at the Borobudur
Hotel on Wednesday to mark the launching of the book Questioning
Gus Dur.

The 249-page book of essays about the President from various
prominent observers along with a few notable articles on
Abdurrahman published in the newspaper, is an updated and revised
edition of Understanding Gus Dur, which was launched earlier this
year.

During Wednesday's discussion, Nurcholish did not widely
elaborate on the best solutions to end Abdurrahman's leadership
crisis. Nevertheless, he remarked on the empowerment of Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri as one probable solution.

Nurcholish said Megawati deserved to play a key role in the
government, because her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), gained the highest vote in the general
election.

"The Vice President must be more active because she also has
strong legitimacy," he said.

Other guest speakers during Wednesday's discussion were
political scientist Mochtar Pabotinggi of the National Institute
of Sciences (LIPI) and noted economist Sjahrir.

Senior journalist and former Indonesian Ambassador to
Australia Sabam Siagian moderated the seminar.

Budiman Soedjatmiko, the chairman of the Democratic People's
Party (PRD), and labor activist Dita Indah Sari used the
opportunity from the floor not only to slam the President, but
also to warn of threats from the military and pro-status quo
groups.

Budiman charged that political parties, including the Golkar
Party and the "axis force", were trying to hold the President
"hostage" so he bows to their political whims.

"Once he no longer abides by their orders, they will try to
oust him," Budiman claimed.

Abdurrahman's second daughter, Yenny Zannuba Rahman, who was
present during the discussion patiently listened to the sharp
criticisms against her father.

Symbolic

Mochtar Pabotinggi maintained that while Abdurrahman may be
incompetent he should remain as the head of state with his
presidential powers reduced to a symbolic role.

Mochtar, however, disagreed with the suggestion to appoint
either Megawati, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker
Amien Rais or the House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
as the country's top executive.

He said these three individuals were no less incompetent than
Abdurrahman.

"The most important thing is to end the uncertainty, because
if this continues, pro-status quo and antireform groups will
become the eventual winners in this chaos," he said.

Sjahrir, however, disputed Mochtar's proposal to limit the
President's powers.

Sjahrir said it was unimaginable for a person like Abdurrahman
to accept the reality that he would only play a ceremonial role.

"It is impossible for Gus Dur to accept such a bitter
condition," he said.

Sjahrir said after the Assembly's Annual Session, which begins
next week, the President should form a more credible and
professional Cabinet.

He stressed that it was also important for Abdurrahman to stop
his stubbornness and follow his economic policymakers' advice.

"A market embracing government must be formed without ignoring
the power of the existing political interests," Sjahrir noted.

In Sjahrir's opinion, not only was the President at fault over
the past months but also legislators.

He said House members had been aggressive in probing the
recent State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rp 35 billion scandal which
allegedly involved the President.

However, in comparison, the legislators seemed deaf when there
were reports of alleged corruption for about Rp 190 billion
disclosed by the recently removed Army Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah.

"Why did they just remain silent with the Kostrad case
although the amount is so much higher than the Bulog case?"
Sjahrir said. (prb)