Taufik Kiemas launches attack on wife's rival

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As the legislative election draws near, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has stepped up attacks on the top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri and senior PDI-P member Taufik Kiemas slammed the retired Army general on Tuesday saying the latter was being "childish".

Taufik's attack was just the latest such barb against Susilo by other politicians in recent days.

Susilo has appeared on TV commercial spots in recent days making an appeal for a peaceful election, in his capacity as the senior security minister.

However, the free TV time has drawn criticism, because while he has made it known to the media that he has presidential ambitions, he has not notified his boss, Megawati, and the TV spots are seen as extra exposure by his potential competitors.

"It was a childish act, Susilo should have informed the President first and not talked about (his desire for the presidency) to the media," Taufik said.

The president's spouse was adding his own comments after being asked about recent reports that said Susilo had been ostracized from the rest of his Cabinet members.

"Susilo is a four-star general, he should not act like a little child and the President will not even dignify his moves with a response," he said about the minister, who is seen by many as perhaps the strongest contender in the presidential election, depending on which party he makes an alliance with.

In recent weeks, Susilo has refrained from making comments at the presidential palace. He also has missed several Cabinet meetings.

Sources told The Jakarta Post that Susilo was annoyed by the planned governmental regulation, requiring ministers to leave the Cabinet before campaigning, as he was not consulted when the home ministry drafted the regulation.

"If he's having problems in the Cabinet, he should have talked to the President," Taufik argued.

Separately, legislators Chatibul Umam Wiranu and Djoko Susilo from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), respectively, said it was unfortunate about the reports of Susilo not getting along with others in the Cabinet.

They said that members of Megawati's "rainbow Cabinet" were from various political parties, however they must show unity in conducting state duties.

"Ostracizing a minister is unusual. I'm not pleased," Djoko said.

Umam meanwhile said that there was no acceptable reason to justify his isolation in the Cabinet.

He, however, warned Susilo to avoid compromising his duties by campaigning in any way.

Separately, political scientist Ikrar Nusa Bhakti said he doubted the report on the general being spurned. The report was questionable, he said, given the fact that other ministers who were also running for the presidency like Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Jusuf Kalla and Agum Gumelar were not being blackballed.

Ikrar from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that running for president was a citizen's individual right.

"In my opinion, SBY (Susilo) will not contest head-to-head against Megawati, but he would rather take a vice presidential post," he added.

Commenting on the TV spots, Ikrar said there was nothing wrong with them. "All of us want peaceful elections," he said.