Soeharto's mansion fund

Soeharto's mansion fund

Has Mr. Soeharto no shame? Disgraced, ousted former president
Soeharto has asked that as a former president he be given a cash
allowance of Rp 26.5 billion in lieu of housing for his needs.
According to reports, he prefers cash to a house because he
already has a house and does not actually need a physical place
of residence. Under the circumstances, this request is remarkable
enough, but what is even more incredible is that President B.J.
Habibie has apparently approved this expenditure, and the new
head of an ostensibly reformed Functional Group (Golkar) Mr.
Akbar Tandjung supports this decision.

How many residences has Soeharto already acquired and equipped
at the public's expense during his presidency? Soeharto seems
content to stay in one place since his disgraced surrender of
office in May. He does not seem to entertain public figures. He
has not assumed the role of a respected elder statesman: how
could he? How many residences does he now have? What else does he
need? And with an official pension of Rp 15,000,000 per month
surely he does not need cash for his remaining days.

The rationale that it is standard practice to provide a house
to a former president, even if true, can be countered with the
argument that these are not standard times. What is lawful is not
necessarily mandated. If a former president or vice president had
sacrificed opportunities for personal enrichment because he/she
was preoccupied in the service of the nation, then the nation
would of course feel an obligation to provide comfortable, modest
retirement housing to him. The indications are that to the
contrary, Soeharto used his presidency to exploit every
opportunity for personal enrichment. Is he really entitled to a
house at the public's expense now? At 77 years of age, could he
not sell his Harley Davidsons or one of his other properties to
raise money for necessary household renovations? Aren't his
children willing to assist him in his old age?

If President Habibie is so devoted to his mentor, the former
president, why doesn't he establish a voluntary fund, an account
to which Indonesians can donate personal money for the former
president if they choose to so honor him for his service? How
many ordinary Indonesians feel obliged to make a personal
donation to Soeharto from their meager personal funds? Or is Mr.
Habibie setting a precedent which he hopes will be followed when
he becomes the former president?

If they are so committed to his welfare, let Mr. Habibie and
Mr. Akbar Tandjung be the first donors to Soeharto's housing
fund. But spare the public treasury.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra