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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid
suddenly showed up in Malaysia a few days ago in what appeared to be an attempt
to shore up Parti Keadilan Rakyat's election campaign in Permatang Pauh.
But for PKR to resort to using an erratic and discredited personality such as
Abdurrahman is certainly most inappropriate, to say the least.
For those whose memory may have lapsed, Abdurrahman or popularly known as Gus
Dur, Indonesia's fourth president, was perhaps best known as someone who once
commanded a coalition of political support and also one who could "unite"
Indonesia's politicians into opposing him, and that subsequently led to his
impeachment by Indonesia's national assembly (MPR) and fall from grace.
In all the 18 months that he was president, he brought Indonesia to greater
disarray, especially in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. There were frequent
bloody political protests while ethnic and religious strife as well as
separatist tensions were frequent in far-flung provinces.
He brought untold hardship to Indonesians when the rupiah fell even further
during his stewardship.
Gus Dur left the presidency in July 2001 in a cloud of disgrace amidst
allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism, or popularly known as KKN in
Indonesia for "korupsi,kolusi dan nepotisme".
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has described Gus Dur as someone who
has no support even in his own country.
And in his usual diplomatic style, Dr Rais said Malaysians knew of the kind of
reputation that Gus Dur has.
Gus Dur told a news conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya recently
that the legal system in Malaysia was undemocratic and questioned the need for
the Internal Security Act.
During the last days of his presidency, all the qualities that were once hailed
about Gus Dur appeared to be his shortcomings -- his tenacity was seen as
stubbornness, his outspokenness as diplomatically dangerous, and in the process,
he upset a number of foreign governments.
Far from being a model of democratic leadership, he has been seen as high-handed
and autocratic.
He did not hide his disdain and contempt for the Indonesian parliament and even
described it as a kindergarten.
He was also embroiled in a corruption scandal when his personal masseur fled,
allegedly with more than USD4 million of government money.
Gus Dur himself was accused of misappropriating donations amounting to US$2
million from the Sultan of Brunei in a scandal known as Bruneigate as the money
was received outside of government channels.
He was also censured for the Bulogate scandal for he was found to be involved in
the withdrawal and disbursement of 35 billion rupiah (about US$3.7 million) from
the National Logistics Agency (BULOG) which was pocketed by his close allies.
He was censured by parliament despite his repeated denials of wrongdoing and the
somewhat circumstantial evidence against him.
Most people remember him as having failed to fulfil the people's reform mandate
and having wasted the legitimacy given him by the people, and that he had failed
to uphold the supremacy of the law and maintain national unity.
In July 2001, the showdown between the Indonesian parliament and Gus Dur reached
a climax. He refused to appear before Parliament and tried to dissolve
Parliament and call for new elections.
Six cabinet ministers resigned. Parliament then unanimously voted to impeach and
dismiss him for corruption and incompetence.
Despite being stripped of power, Gus Dur refused to vacate the presidential
palace. The standoff lasted three days before it eventually dawned on him that
he longer had the support of the people and decided to leave.
In the face of adversity, he chose not to stay in Indonesia and fled the
country.
Gus Dur, with his erratic behaviour and conflicting statements, also flirted
with Jewish organisations despite his strong Islamic credentials.
Is this the kind of personality who could inspire us Malaysians?
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Circular No 297/2008
