Suharto faces key moment in power
Indonesia needs an orderly and stable transition at the top
As expected, and despite the rumblings on the ground, President Suharto
has accepted a re-nomination for a further five-year term. If he gets
re-elected, he will remain in power till 2003 when he will be 82 years
old -- unless he decides to step down mid-way to make room for a younger
successor.
But this time, Mr Suharto may face an unprecedented challenge, because
there are now people bold enough to contest him -- like Sukarno's
daughter Megawati and Muslim leader Amien Rais.
But his re-election is not in doubt because the ruling Golkar, which
nominates him, and its allies dominate the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR). The MPR will convene the presidential election in March.
The markets may not have reacted positively yesterday to Mr Suharto's
re-nomination.
But the immediate effect should be to provide stability to the country,
at a time of great flux both at home and in the region.
Refusal to stand again, or keeping his intentions vague, would have led
to jockeying and manoeuvring by various groups in the run-up to the
March election. This would be far from helpful at this time when
Indonesia's biggest priority is to stabilise the economy, not worsen it
with political uncertainty.
So, whatever his critics may say of him, Mr Suharto is actually keeping
the country together, even though it makes him look like he's clinging
on to power.
Still, the president is facing his most important moment. The country
needs him to take it out of its present mire. But there are those who
hope that, given his advancing age, he would step aside with his record
intact, and not go down in ignominy, which could be caused by the
financial crisis.
The hope is that he uses this crucial stretch to chart a peaceful
transition to a new leader so that a leadership change, when it comes,
will not be unstable like in the 1960s. He could choose to finish his
new term, or step down halfway, which is deemed preferable.
But one thing is certain: It's better if the choice is his.
Indonesia needs an orderly and stable transfer of power. The best time
to do this is when a leader like President Suharto is still around to
ensure a smooth handover. For this reason alone, the president needs to
take seriously the growing call to end the vagueness of political
succession by putting in place a clear successor as vice-president.
The next vice-president should not be a mere adornment of the
constitutional requirement for a No 2. He must be seen, treated and
accepted by everyone as the successor-in-waiting.
Mr Suharto's move yesterday to signal his choice of B J Habibie, the
research and technology minister, as his preferred running mate is a
step in this direction. But it may not be seen to be good enough; he
should make his choice unambiguous. The MPR may not go along, but
members of the House can, and should, then be allowed to put up
contending candidates.
The possibility of Mr Suharto being challenged this time should not be
taken as a disaster, as in the past. It is a healthy development as it
gives the people a broader slate to choose from. The days of the calon
tunggal or mono-candidacy -- when Indonesia's presidential election has
only one contestant -- are over.
It cannot continue simply because there is not going to be anybody else
like President Suharto. |
