Megawati Soekarnoputri

December 20th, 2008, in News & Issues, by Patung

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Has Megawati got the necessary Islamic credentials to be president, again, or does she like shopping too much.

Clothing

In the newly-released book Mereka Bicara Mega 38 public figures discuss former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, most of them focusing on her religious credentials, or perceived lack of them, and those of her party, Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan.

Amien Rais discusses the question of Mega wearing the jilbab, or Muslim clothing generally, and suggests doing so more often would win her more votes in the 2009 presidential race. Megawati normally only wears Muslim dress when attending religious events and ceremonies.

Megawati wearing a headscarf, fairly untypically.

It might also help to reduce the impact of the PDI’s unrepresentative parliamentary list, because it has too many non-Muslims on it. Even in the PDI’s heartland of Central Java many of the party’s Muslim voters are put off by the lack of proportionate representation of Muslims in PDI Perjuangan, he says. [1]

Rituals

Meanwhile Megawati’s religious adviser, Aqil Siradi, says Mega often asks him frank and open questions about Islam, such as the correct way of washing before prayer, and whether when travelling to Mecca it is alright to bring along stones from Indonesia to later throw at the stone pillar representing the devil, or whether one must make do with locally available Saudi stones. [2]

Shopaholic

In another new work, Dari Soekarno Sampai SBY: Intrik dan Lobi Politik Para Penguasa, a book of anecdotes about former presidents, Megawati is portrayed as the least talkative of all Indonesia’s rulers, a firm holder to the rule that “Silence is Golden”.

Megawati was not always quiet when talking to her ministers though, but was generally only roused to speech by matters such as gardening, cooking and food, and shopping, but not affairs of state. On serious issues, she tended to lose her concentration very fast, it is said. [3]

16 Comments on “Megawati Soekarnoputri”

Chris Komari Says:
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
In politic, you can utilize whatever means you want including wearing those head-scarf or Purdah and make crazy maneuvers to win the election. What’s so critical in Indonesia today is not about who is going to be the next President of Indonesia, but it is about the issues facing Indonesia that need to be resolved by the next President of Indonesia.

RE-electing President SBY nor, President Megawati are not going to change Indonesia significantly and at the very best is maintaining status quo and that is bad for Indonesia.

Chris Komari
Founder/Chairman
Future Indonesia Independent Party
http://www.futureindonesia.com
ultratupai Says:
December 24th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Oh, ya, she really shops far too much. Just might be the thing to sustain the world economy in 2009. But alas, even her credit is running low. I say Megawati NO! Come on Indonesia you can do better. Look to the future…
Cornelis Says:
December 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am
It would appear to me that more people are interested in the personal habits and behaviours of important figures in politics than in their policies and ability to lead change. Would it not be more advantageous to the development of the country if members of parliament were elected because of their astuteness and ability to analyse why Indonesia is not at the forefront of development in the South-Esat Asia region, and their ability to effect positive change. Let’s keep this in mind when the election process begins again early in 2009. The country has so much potential, yet it is only making slow progress in terms of international trade and improvements in the standard of living for a large proportion of its population.
Lanang Says:
December 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Religious identification is to be signified and preserved as part of Indonesia’s socio-cultural characteristics, not the other way around. It isn’t a maneuver, it’s a trapping. Selling out religion for political profit itself is a disgraceful and corruptible political practice. Both politicians and citizens that intend to foresee a government founded on such mindset are societal toxins, gradually decomposing the nation from core.
Pakmantri Says:
December 24th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Lanang said:

Selling out religion for political profit itself is a disgraceful and corruptible political practice. Both politicians and citizens that intend to foresee a government founded on such mindset are societal toxins, gradually decomposing the nation from core.

Agree, therefore, any political parties based on religions should be disbanded and prohibited.

Salam.
Lairedion Says:
December 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Pakmantri said:

Agree, therefore, any political parties based on religions should be disbanded and prohibited.

In a mature liberal democracy where political parties and decision makers are moderated by Constitution and Law protecting ethnic and religious minorities, religion-based parties shouldn’t be a problem.

However, in a religion-obsessed nation like Indonesia the prohibition of religion-based parties sounds like a good idea because the state just cannot guarantee the protection of ethnic and religious minorities and is bowing down to the growing demand of Islamic fanatics. Now Indonesia has its own Afghanistan (Aceh), several regencies with sharia-inspired bye-laws severely affecting non-Muslims and the latest gem, the infamous porn law. Furthermore there are several religious clubs pressing on banning “golput” (non-voters) from their organizations.

I have to agree with Lanang. This nation is rapidly heading towards disintegration. In my ancestral homeland North Sulawesi more and more people are contemplating a future outside Indonesia and why not? They don’t want to be part of a Negara Islam Indonesia.

The future looks bleak….
Pakmantri Says:
December 25th, 2008 at 6:43 am
@Lairedion,

In my ancestral homeland North Sulawesi more and more people are contemplating a future outside Indonesia and why not? They don’t want to be part of a Negara Islam Indonesia.

There goes your dream of retiring in Manado ………………….

Anyway, looking at history, I don’t think “Negara Islam Indonesia” will happen. The problem with most of Indonesian are very tolerant to the point that anybody can use, abuse and manipulate them ( I blame it on the Javanese philosophy “eling and nrimo” influence. ) until to the point when suddenly it become unbearable anymore, then there will be an “amok” and another revolution. And according to some people that time is close. You don’t want to be around when that happen.

And when it is all over and done Indonesia will be on its right path lead by “Ratu Adil”. That’s what written in “Jongko Joyoboyo”. Joyoboyo is Indonesian Nostradamus.

Have a very happy and merry holiday, I hope you’ll get the present that you deserve from Sinterklas.

Cheers.
Lairedion Says:
December 26th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I will retire in Manado, with Indonesia or without it. But I do hope you’re right, Mas.
Rob Says:
December 27th, 2008 at 1:27 am
No and Yes!
kitsilencer Says:
December 30th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
What an unbelievably dumb, vacuous, shallow and insanely irrelevant piece of writing.

I cannot believe that you would give the time of day to discuss the non-issue of whether Megawati is a true adherent of the “faith.” This has absolutely nothing to do with whether she can be an effective leader or not.

Mega often asks him frank and open questions about Islam, such as the correct way of washing before prayer, and whether when travelling to Mecca it is alright to bring along stones from Indonesia to later throw at the stone pillar representing the devil, or whether one must make do with locally available Saudi stones.

If the above is so damned important to the wellbeing of this ragged conglomeration of islands euphemistically called a nation, then places like Tangerang and Aceh should stand out as pillars of enlightened leadership. But they don’t.

The truth is that I don’t care how well versed in scripture my potential leader is. I do, however, care what their stand is on universal healthcare, free education, poverty reduction, climate change, human rights and corruption.

Nowhere in your indepth tribute to sycophantic prose do you bring up any of these relevant points. Your propagation of empty, useless, factoids is a typical example of modern elections revolving around “personalities, not issues.”

Shame on you.
Lanang Says:
December 30th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Argumentus ad hominem.
Ajay Says:
December 31st, 2008 at 3:06 am
She had a chance at presidency before, and I think she simply failed.
daniel Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
Indonesian politics are really funny. The people vote their president based on emotions rather than using their heads !

Only two Governments in the world has a President where in Parliament the majority of the Reps are from the opposition party or not supporting the Presidents. We have Indonesia where the President is SBY from a small unknown party and the House reps are majority controlled by Golkar. In the Palestine, we have President Mahhmud from Al Fatah and Hamas controlling the Parliament !! And nobody listens to these two Presidents!!

Worse still Indonesia has 2 elections in a year ! One for the Party and another for President !! How can this country progress. How can the poor people able to improve their lives.

Why cant they just have ONE Election.? The winning party with the most number of seats in Parliament lead the country with their own President. The Opposition can act as a balance and check role.

With the President coming from the majority winning party then a lot of Bills and proposals can be passed in the MPR and this will of course improve the country as a whole.
Chris Komari Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Those are interesting comments*

For a democracy to work in Indonesia, the 3 branches of Government must exist and co-equal. They exist but they are not co-equal.

In the past during the old regimes both during President Soekarno and Soeharto administration, the Executive Branch of Government was too powerful. All the power was centralized at the Executive Branch.

Now during the reformation era, the Legislative Branch is too powerful making the Head of the Executive Branch; the President of Indonesia all time lame duck President regardless who the person will be; either former Military General or Non-Military General. There problem here is that the two Branches of Government are not co-equal.

I have been advocating to many Indonesia\’s prominent politicians and political party to draft a new bill to give President of Indonesia a VETO right. That does not mean that the buck stops at the Presidency.

If any bill was vetoed by the President of Indonesia, the Parliament will have the second chance to muscle their power by getting 3/2 votes from the members of the Parliament to OVER RIDE the President\’s VETO. This will put the Indonesia\’s President Co-equal with the Indonesia\’s Parliament.

Above and beyond that, those Indonesia\’s small political parties do not have to worry about promoting their President candidates with much less members in the Parliament. This VETO right will make the Legislative to be more mindful to work diligently with the President of Indonesia.

In a Democracy, the power must be dispersed and decentralized. The Legislative can NOT have higher power than other branches of Government and acting like a soft-dictatorship. Parliament shall be one entity and the Executive Branch shall be another entity that are co-equal and interdependent.

Indonesia is a long way to go from being a democratic country. Fair and Fair Election alone does not make Indonesia a democratic country. But she is on the right track. She just needs to get going improving its public engagements on the field.

The recent “Makamah Konstitusi” decision to give power to the people was the right track to force those Parliament candidates to work harder and pay attention to the interest of the ordinary people. What missing from that decision was ONE THING.

The “Makamah Konstitusi” (Constitutional Court) together with that decision shall add a short clause or provision to PROHIBIT ANY CANDIDATE WHO RUNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE FROM BUYING VOTES from the constituents in any fashion, shape or form. This clause once against will force those candidates to work harder to come up with attractive and comprehensive program that address the interest of the ordinary Indonesian people if they want to be elected in office.

These are a few examples of hundreds if not thousands things that Indonesia’s politicians need to take on every step of the way. These are just political issues.

How about the depressing economic issues that have been entangled Indonesia for decades, such as: the massive foreign and domestic debts, the massive wasteful spending by Central Government even during SBY’s administration, the declining Rupiah currency for the last 29 years….? The list goes on and on.

I have pointed out and I have written enough about those issues…It’s time to demand for a real significant change in Indonesia. Re-electing President SBY or President Megawati will do nothing but at best, maintaining Status Quo and that is BAD for Indonesia.

The second sad part is that those new comers who run for President do not have real comprehensive programs to address the real and critical issues facing Indonesia. By having lack of vision, lack of programs and lack of ability to foresee the future of Indonesia make them unattractive candidates.

That was why President SBY and President Megawati received higher rating at the recent polls. But if you pay close attention with their records, these both Presidents do not do much to make any significant change in Indonesia because many critical issues are not even being touched.
Chris Komari Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Just little corrections…and please, be mindful with typo errors….

Indonesia’s Parliament will need 2/3 (not 3/2) to over ride President’s VETO. Knowing that the Judicial System in Indonesia is still COMPLETELY broken, the Executive and Legislative Branch have every duties and obligations to fix it. There are many ways to do it.

the works of KPK (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi) is part of the judicial system of Government. Since Indonesia’s Judicial System is so broken, KPK was created to stand alone. Making KPK a higher entity than the Judicial System, Executive and Legislative Branch of Government is a dangerous recipe. In the absence of broken judicial system is okay. But leaving the way it is for too long will be too dangerous for Indonesia.

This is another step to take on if we want to see democracy works in Indonesia to a point that benefits the citizen of Indonesia at large.

http://www.indonesiamatters.com/2431/presidential-debates/
Burung Koel Says:
January 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I don’t care where she shops, but she seems to get most of her public statements from the Mall of Boring Platitudes.

Do we actually know what she (and the PDI-P) stand for? I’m more concerned that the Indonesian Presidential election is becoming more like those in the Philippines - big on celebrity/political dynasties/personalities but lacking in real differences between the various party programs.