Taufik Kiemas launches attack on wife's rival
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.