Time has yet come for Tutut: Scholar

Time has yet come for Tutut: Scholar

SURABAYA (JP): Golkar's deputy chairwoman, Siti Hardiyanti
Rukmana, has to withstand political ordeals before she is mature
enough to be considered for the vice presidency, Moslem scholar
Amien Rais said Saturday.

Hardiyanti is President Soeharto's eldest daughter.

"She's too young now and, politically, she's not seasoned
enough. She needs at least another 10 years before she's up to be
considered for the vice presidency," Amien said during a break in
a seminar on Indonesia's future held by the Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization's youth wing. At least 500 Moslem students joined
the discussion.

"She does not have enough statesmanship," he said.

Amien, a politics lecturer at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada
University and chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah
organization, was commenting on speculation that the 48-year-old
Hardiyanti could be nominated for vice president.

Amien said the next vice president should serve as "a spare
tire ready to be used as the main tire at a moment's notice."

"The person in question should be able to take over the
presidential duties and responsibilities. The challenges and
state problems in the future will grow even more complex," he
said.

He said it was Hardiyanti's "first term as a Golkar leader.
Every body knows of her business experience, but she still has
far to go in terms of political experience."

Golkar recently said it might nominate Hardiyanti for vice
president next year. Golkar said this after political scientist
J. Kristiadi said Hardiyanti was a hot prospect to become the
next vice president because of "the proximity of her thoughts
with those of President Soeharto".

Discussion on vice presidential candidates has been growing.
While it's a foregone conclusion that President Soeharto will be
re-elected next year, speculation on who he will favor as his
deputy is growing.

Names that have been mentioned include the incumbent Try
Sutrisno, the state minister of research and technology, B.J.
Habibie, the state minister of national development planning,
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, the minister of information, Harmoko, and
the Army's chief of staff, R. Hartono.

Amien said the growing discourse on the next vice president
was a positive development in Indonesian politics.

"This nation has enough wisdom to understand the reality,
including on who will be the next president and vice president,"
he said.

He called on younger people to start thinking and preparing
for the post-Soeharto era.

"Mentally, intellectually, the young have to prepare for the
post-Soeharto era, think long-term. As for the current problems,
let nature take care of them. Everything has its limit," he
said. (nur/swe)