Big challenge awaits new Indonesian president

Indonesia, world's fourth largest populous nation, in August went for elections to choose a president for the first time through direct votes in a remarkable step towards balloting. None of the candidates could secure more than 50 percent of the votes to emerge as winner, then in the run-off voting in September the ex-General convincingly beat incumbent Megawati Shukarnoputri to become the democratically elected president of the country made up of numerous islands.

Indonesia is not a new country but the process of democratic rule has only been introduced in the vast nation of the south-east Asian region. The system is something like the French presidential polls where the chief executive of the country is chosen by direct popular votes. The American system is somewhat indirect where the voters' choice is based on electoral college votes which does not necessarily guarantee that a candidate winning more popular votes than his rival will be elected (president George W Bush received less popular votes than Democratic nominee Al-Gore but the later lost because of electoral college system that went against him).

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Indonesia, long ruled through undemocratic methods, has finally gone for democracy and it is all the more heartening that the system is ideally representative in the current global standard.

In the first phase polls, former General and ex-security minister under president Megawati Shukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono topped the elections with 34 percent of the votes followed by the president herself, who secured 26 percent of the votes. The third position went to another ex-army general Wiranto with 22 percent. In the second round of polling, Gen Yudhoyono secured more than 60 percent of the votes while Megawati could muster only 40 percent and consequently, the incumbent president lost.

She did not openly concede defeat but created no noise over the outcome of the voting. Megawati allowed a smooth transition even though she chose not to remain present at the oath-taking ceremony of the new president. Certainly, it would have been much admirable had she accepted the defeat more gracefully. But the very fact that it was under her presidentship the election that has been acclaimed by national and international quarters as free and fair had taken place and this has carved out a niche for herself in the history since she made no attempt to impair fair polling. She would go down in the Indonesian history as someone who facilitated introduction of democracy in the country.

Indonesia won freedom from the Dutch under the leadership of charismatic Ahmed Sukarno, who remained at the helm till deposed in the failed pro-communist coup in 1965 that brought Gen Suharto at the centre stage and he ruled the nation for long 32 years mainly through autocratic style. A pro-democracy movement forced him to quit power, bringing Borhanuddin Habibi as interim president and later Abdur Rahman Wahid was elected president by parliament members. Megawati, daughter of "Bung"(Brother) Shukarno, was widely expected to become president but when dark horse Wahid was chosen, she graciously accepted vice-presidency in a praiseworthy decision that earned her admiration. Physically handicapped Wahid was forced to relinquish the presidency for alleged incompetence and corruption and Megawati was the clear choice for the position.

She enjoyed the advantage of being the daughter of the leader of the Indonesian freedom movement and her tenure as president has been marked by both achievements and criticisms. A good governance remained a subject of discussion in the country and alleged interference in different matters including business deals by her parliamentarian husband also formed a part of criticisms against her. However, the president was firm in the saddle as the opponents were not a big threat against her. Meanwhile, Indonesia admirably moved closer to democratisation and the decision to elect the chief executive of the nation through direct popular votes was a step in the right direction. Many eyes were cast in the presidential polls since it is new and unique for the country. I had the occasion of visiting Jakarta late last year and was impressed to see the development of the country, which is also the population wise biggest Muslim nation in addition to being an important Asian nation with considerable clout in the Southeast Asian region. However, people at that time were eagerly looking forward to the presidential polls that was still several months away. Because the future political scenario was largely contingent upon the outcome of the much-awaited polls.

All the southeast Asian nations were not democratic but the wind of change had put its impact on the region in a positive manner. Indonesia being the largest country in that area occupies important position in the larger context of democratic rule. The presidential election was a key component in the whole exercise. The smooth holding of the presidential polls and the transfer of power marks the culmination of a remarkable chapter for a nation that had to go through autocratic rule for a surprisingly long spell while being close to the West symbolising democratic pattern of rule.

However, the new president faces a daunting task of streamlining the economy, curb alarming corruption and arouse public confidence in the democratic system. The very fact that he is a former army General and relatively new in the political arena, but beat an once popular politician and daughter of the hero of Indonesian independence raised eye brows in several quarters. His relentless promises to stamp out corruption and repeated vow to keep the nation on track of democracy endeared him to the people. Megawati failed to live upto expectations despite the fact that certain areas marked improvement during her rule. As is the case with most developing nations, she could not maintain the pace with people's aspirations. However, she has shown her maturity as a leader when during a valedictory kind of address to the parliament she spoke more on what she could not accomplish and less on what she did. This is commendable.

President Yudhoyono must spare no efforts to consolidate the edifice of democracy on one hand and provide a good governance on the other. He must remain alert that his past as an army general is not reflected in his new democratic role. He has small support in parliament as his Democratic Party commands scant strength in the house and as such he needs to carry others along with him. The new president has already shown some sagacity as he has retained some ministers from Megawati's cabinet including the key foreign minister. But his main challenge is containing endemic corruption which eats away much of the developmental efforts of the country. He has vowed no compromise on the issue and has warned ministers that none would be spared for wrong doings. If the new president can himself remain above corruption and really takes on the corrupt elements regardless of their positions, and at the same time fares reasonably well in other areas -- albeit any spectacular achievement is unrealistic and unexpected -- he will succeed and in the process can develop the new-found democracy in the important country.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.