I am still the boss, says Wahid

JAKARTA, AUG. 11. The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, said on Friday that he was still boss of the country and intended to only share Government responsibilities with the Vice- President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Addressing a religious gathering in Jakarta, Mr. Wahid said there had been a mistaken belief he was transferring executive power to Ms Sukarnoputri when he announced on Wednesday she would run the Government on a daily basis.

Some reports have suggested that Mr. Wahid, who looked to be on the political ropes at the start of a meeting of the top legislature this week, was handing the bulk of his authority to Ms Megawati. ``The division of labour between the President and the Vice-President has been misunderstood,'' Mr Wahid said. ``What will be given to the Vice-President is not authority, but duties. There is no handover of authority.''

Indeed, the shrewd Mr. Wahid has emerged this week with his hand strengthened and, Indonesians hope, the prospect of a Government that will work will be improved when the 60-year-old Muslim cleric announces a Cabinet reshuffle on August 21.

Nearly blind, enfeebled by two strokes and apparently little interested in the detail of Government, Mr. Wahid is admired for his intellect and vision but seen as an inept administrator. It is administrative skills that most people hope Ms Megawati will bring to the Government, which Mr Wahid has pledged would be stacked with technocrats instead of bickering politicians. Mr. Wahid has said the daughter of Indonesia's founding father, Sukarno, would lead Cabinet meetings as part of the transfer of responsibilities, a position he repeated on Friday.

He added that a ``coordinating minister'', an official who usually oversees related Ministries, would help Ms Megawati. Aides close to Ms Megawati have said she wants extra powers, including the authority to veto who would serve in the new Cabinet.

- Reuters.

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Section  : International
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