Mysterious message starts row

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As former president Soeharto lies ill in hospital, politicians and political experts are trying to decipher a message he reportedly sent to Megawati Soekarnoputri instructing her to "take care of the nation".

"I think it's all right for Soeharto to entrust Megawati to continue taking care of this country," former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso said as quoted by detik.com news portal on Friday. "It's natural for him to ask Megawati to do so, especially since he was formerly president of Indonesia."

Sutiyoso said the 2009 presidential election would be a direct presidential election by the Indonesian people, and "they are smart enough to elect their president by their own choice, not by somebody's words."

Lukman Hakim Saefuddin, chairman for the United Development Party faction at the House of Representatives, said: "I believe that Soeharto understands well that the country has a constitution, which regulates the procedure of presidential elections."

Soeharto sent the message through Megawati's husband, Taufiq Kiemas, in early December, a month before Soeharto was hospitalized. The contents of the message was recently revealed by Pramono Anung Wibowo, secretary general of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

"He just wanted to make sure that this country will be taken care of by the whole nation, not just by individuals," said Lukman.

Arbi Sanit, a political observer from the University of Indonesia, also said the bottom line was that Soeharto had shown concern about the country and the leadership qualities of the people who had held the presidential post after he resigned.

"Soeharto knows that we haven't found a leader who has the ability to lead this country well," he said.

"No one has been found who has been able to lead like him. He was very good in leading, but unfortunately was not good at being democratic," he added.

However, former chairman of the Golkar Party Akbar Tandjung, said that it was impossible that Soeharto would send such a message to Megawati.

"I don't believe what is being said about Soeharto sending a message to Megawati about continuing to take care of this country, as he surely knows that the country has a constitution," Akbar said.

Deputy secretary-general of the Golkar Party Rully Chairul Azwar also expressed doubts.

"He might have just been lending moral support or paying lip service to her efforts at conducting a presidential campaign," Rully told The Jakarta Post by phone.

"I don't know exactly what was in his mind. It's OK for Soeharto to support anyone. In the end, the Indonesian people will be the ones who decide on their next president," he added.

The 86-year-old Soeharto, who led the country for 32 years, has been in a critical condition since he was admitted to Pertamina Central Hospital, South Jakarta last Friday due to severe edema and anemia