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)