We give priority to national interest: PBB party official

The Crescent Star Party (PBB) is another party which no longer supports President Abdurrahman Wahid as much as it did in the beginning of his term. Party executive M.S. Ka'ban shared his views on this matter with The Jakarta Post.

Question: How do you justify your party's new support for a Megawati Soekarnoputri presidency?

Answer: The situation in the country affects our political judgments. We at PBB consider national interest to be the first priority. Judging from the real situation here, we believe that we cannot continue supporting Gus Dur (Abdurrahman) if we want the country to recover.

We need to remember that PBB has never discussed the question of gender. Historically, Masyumi (the Islamic organization whose members founded PBB) never discussed the question of gender. In the 1999 general election, when some people (opposed a Megawati presidency) based on her gender, I believe it was not only about gender, but because the situation was not yet conducive (for her presidency).

Now things have changed. We are not choosing (her); there was never any question of choosing. We are only placing the interests of the nation as our first priority, and we are upholding the constitutional process in order to prevent anarchy and in order to prevent anyone from forcing his or her own will.

We are saying that whether or not we like it, whether or not we are willing, Megawati must become president in accordance with the Constitution.

Q: PBB represents the interests of various groups, including those who oppose a female president. How do you explain your position to your constituents?

A: The matter is settled. (Gender) is a matter of differences (khilafiyah) in religious law (fiqih) that will always be questioned from time to time. But for now, it is reality that Megawati is the Vice President. So we are not making any choices, but merely following the Constitution.

Q: That is a very diplomatic way to put it -- not choosing but following the Constitution...

A: Not really, the Constitution says so. It does not stipulate a new presidential election when the incumbent is indisposed or removed from office, but that the vice president assumes the presidency. We are only doing what the Constitution says.

Q: To what extent do you support Megawati?

A: We are supporting her in the context of the Constitution. If later she proves to issue policies that are against state policies, then we would be critical of her. This principle of ours will not change. We will continue the practice of encouraging people to do good and discouraging them from misdeeds. So our support is constitutional in nature.

Q: Your party has been having some internal squabbling lately. Are you all in agreement regarding your support of Megawati?

A: Judging from the daily (leadership) meetings and the plenary meetings, there is no problem at all. We understand that some in the Muslim community have decided that (supporting a woman president is possible) in an emergency situation, there are others who still oppose to it and there are others still (with different opinions). We consider this an ordinary problem.

Q: What would your party prefer -- staging a by-election or supporting an immediate Megawati presidency?

A: In the current context, I think it would be best for everybody concerned to give Megawati a chance to become president as the Constitution mandates. Do not let us to allow our dislike of someone over some minor problem negate the Constitution.

Q: What do you mean, negate the Constitution?

A: I do not know if you will agree with my example. Gus Dur did not like (Bank Indonesia) Governor Sjahril Sabirin, so he sought to amend the law on the central bank. We do not want to be like that; we want to see a speedy recovery of the economy, as well as a stable political life.

Q: Do you have a deadline by which you hope to see Gus Dur removed from office?

A: I think Gus Dur will not be able to stay on any longer than August. That is the longest because he does not have any more options. Look how people have withdrawn their support from him. And Megawati has said that she never supported Gus Dur. Everything is clear.

I would say more than 500 (members of the House of Representatives) no longer support (the President), which is more than the two-thirds who previously supported him. Even without calling a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, Gus Dur has in effect lost his legitimacy.

Q: And you are sure Megawati would be able to handle the responsibility of leading the country?

A: We believe so, regardless of her various shortcomings. We have watched her for the past two years -- she has not made any controversial remarks. She really thinks through what she is going to say, so that it will not cause any political or economic waves. This helps bring certainty to the country.

In addition, Megawati can read documents (as opposed to the nearly blind Abdurrahman). This might seem like a simple thing, but it has a great impact (on the running of the country). Finally, I am sure she has already evaluated Gus Dur's shortcomings in running the country.

What is clear is that all this time, Gus Dur has ignored the role of political parties when forming his Cabinet. Megawati surely understands this; she has approached (people) and must understand that it is not possible for her to lead alone, and that she needs the support of Islamic political parties. She will be able (to lead). (Herry Nurdi)