'Soeharto still needed after 1998'

JAKARTA (JP): The youth wing of the ruling political grouping Golkar has asked that President Soeharto allow himself to be nominated for the presidency again in 1998.

Ais Anantama Said, chair of the Generasi Muda Gabungan Karya Rakyat Indonesia, made the call yesterday while addressing a one- day seminar on the sanctity of the state ideology Pancasila, saying the organization would soon forward the proposal to Golkar.

"Let us ... agree that the national leadership remain in the hands of the New Order administration under the leadership of President Soeharto," said Ais, who is the son of former chief justice Ali Said.

The discussion, which was organized by Ais, was held to commemorate Pancasila Sanctity Day and was opened by Golkar Secretary-General Ary Mardjono, representing chairman Harmoko.

"Mind you, this noble wish and proposal is not intended to gain any (political) advantage," said Ais, who is also a legislator. He dismissed the suggestion that the organization's proposal might create the impression that the members want to make Soeharto a "president for life."

"His leadership is still needed," he said. "There are mechanisms...in the MPR five-yearly sessions."

Eligible citizens will cast their votes in 1997. The national leadership succession has been a burning issue for some time, but 73-year-old President Soeharto appears to have no contender at present.

Soeharto was re-elected in March 1993 for his sixth term by a vote of acclamation of the 1,000-member People's Consultative Assembly. He was the sole candidate in the election, as he was in 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988.

When pressed over whether his organization did not see any other potential leaders, Ais, who heads Golkar's department for arts and culture, said that "the issue should be seen in the context of Indonesia's position in the international arena".

"As a (leading) figure, he is still needed to maintain the position of ASEAN...He's not only a statesman, he's not only a politician," he said. "He's needed in order to maintain the stability of ASEAN."

Ais was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that Soeharto should be nominated for a seventh term because he is a leader who is able to guide generations after him.

In addition, "in the coming century, under President Soeharto's leadership, Indonesia's position in the international arena will be more strategic," he said.

The political statement on the nomination for the presidential election which is still more than two years away was the first of its kind.

Inconsistent

Political scientist Maswadi Rauf told The Jakarta Post that Ais' statement was "inconsistent" with the position of Golkar, often stated by Harmoko, regarding the issue of national leadership. During the numerous campaigns by various parties to bring the nation to talk about the national leadership succession, Harmoko has always wet-blanketed the notion.

According to Harmoko, it is "unethical" to discuss succession because only the People's Consultative Assembly has the authority to elect the president and the vice president.

"There's nothing wrong with what Ais said," Maswadi said. "I believe that it's actually the natural thing to do. He feels that way, and has expressed it in that statement."

"What's not right is the idea that people must not talk about (the succession) now. People should be allowed to have discussions about the issue any time," Maswadi said.

Maswadi said that Ais' statement might snow-ball, and that, before long, other organizations would follow suit, expressing support for Soeharto.

In addition, Ais would probably reap political benefits from his statement, Maswadi said. "Now, people may start to see him and his organization as the pioneer in nominating Soeharto again," Maswadi said.

Meanwhile, Harmoko told the seminar that the state ideology Pancasila should not be treated as mere rhetoric. Instead, it should be translated into a force enabling the nation to deal with rapid social and economic change.

In a speech delivered by Ary, Harmoko said the discussion on the sanctity of Pancasila is still relevant, given that the nation is facing various challenges, including clashes of values.

The key speakers at the seminar were former minister of social welfare Alamsyah Ratuprawiranegara, businessman Fahmi Idris and Mahadi Sinambela of Golkar's youth wing. (swe)