Presidential candidate

Before you do or say anything you should determine the right methods, the right time and the right tools.

If you are too eager and do things prematurely, because of high spirits, it may not work out. I am referring to the news about the efforts of certain groups to nominate candidates for the next President.

The Minister of Domestic Affairs has stated that the procedure for nomination and the time is fixed and everything in this connection should be done accordingly. In this context we can consider the nomination of Soeharto as the next President by the Veterans Legion (LVRI) as premature. Have LVRI, as an affiliated organization of Golkarm, consulted the mother organization? Have LVRI discussed this step with LVRI branches all over Indonesia?

In my opinion LVRI could wait and adhere to the existing procedures. Especially when Golkar as the mother organization and coordinator should determine the right timing and procedure, and have not given any opinion yet. The armed forces pensioners (PEPABRI), another Golkar member, is still silent on this subject, because PEPABRI considers a statement at this moment as premature.

I admired the wise answer of the President, upon receiving the LVRI delegation. He said that the "who" is not so important, but that the institutions for running this country should be improved. This was repeated by Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, who also explained that the General assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is still far away from any statement on nomination.

Considering the political climate at this moment, I personally am sure of who is going to be nominated and who is going to be elected as the next President, but again everything should be done at the proper time, and there is no need to rush.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta