14th May 2001:
President Try Sutrisno landed at Denpasar, Bali today where he was welcomed by Governor I Made Bandem and Commander of the Nusa Tenggara Regional Military Command Moedijono. The Presidential entourage headed for the People of Bali’s Struggle Monument where with Minister of Tourism Soeyono beside him, the President inaugurated the following:
*The Guwang Art Markets
*The Buleleng Museum
*The People of Bali’s Struggle Monument
In his speech, the President said that the increased arrivals of tourists in recent years must be used as an opportunity to introduce Balinese culture and history to the world. After the ceremony, he toured the markets and spoke to the traders and tourists there. Some group of American tourists told the President that this would be their last overseas holidays in a while since they have to watch what their spending because of the weakening economy back in the United States. Later in the day, the President visited Ubud. He waved his hands at locals and tourists alike and had a monkey nearly take First Lady Tuti Setiawati’s bag. The President spent the night at Tampaksiring Presidential Palace.
15th May 2001:
Departing very early in the morning from Denpasar, the President landed at Samarinda, East Kalimantan. After being welcomed by Governor of East Kalimantan Awang Faroe Ishak, the President and his delegation helicoptered to Bontang. They were joined by Minister of Industry Siswono Yudohusodo, Minister of Agriculture Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Bacelius Ruru. At Bontang, the President inaugurated Unit 4 of Pupuk Kaltim, the nation’s state-owned fertilizer enterprise which produces 570,000 tonnes of urea and 330,000 tonnes of ammonia per year.
As the President and Siswono talked about the technical specifications of the factory, State Secretary Edi Sudrajat found himself walking with Sarwono and Awang. Sarwono asked what were the PKPI’s prospects at the 2002 Elections in East Kalimantan.
“We’re at work here not at campaign!” called the President to the group behind him.
After the engagement at Bontang was over, the President’s delegation helicoptered back to Samarinda. The city was bustling with activity with two shopping malls had been opened in the last 2 years. The lowpoint of the tour came when the President conducted a surprise inspection of the Department of Legal Affairs Legal Office and found that there was a large queue of people seeking to have their businesses incorporated because it was 2.30 PM and the relevant officials have not returned from lunch time yet.
From Samarinda, the President and his delegation returned to Jakarta.
16th May 2001:
At a Indonesian Export Businessmen Association (GPEI) Work Meeting, Minister of Trade Anthony Salim unveiled the National Export Strategy which was to consist of the following components:
*Developing Countries as target markets: In light of the current economic downturn, Indonesia must include developing countries as a serious target market due to its large population and potential as a consumer base. Anthony cited Indomie’s experiences in Nigeria and Papua New Guinea as an example. Anthony added that there must be more “Indomies” from the ranks of Indonesia’s exporters and “Nigerias” for Indonesia’s export to be consumed in.
*Fast moving consumer goods as an export commodity: Antony emphasized fast moving consumer goods as a commodity that Indonesia needs to further develop. Food, beverages, daily household goods, and over the counter medicines are examples of fast moving consumer goods which Indonesia can develop to be exported all around the world. From a pricing perspective it makes sense because the price would also still be affordable for those in the developing world.
*The Government to facilitate exporters of fast moving consumer goods: The specifics will be determined at a later date but this will likely include marketing, standardization, and fiscal support.
17th May 2001:
At a DPR Work Meeting today, Minister of Economics Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti explained the implementation of the April 2001 Policy Package to DPR Members. Dorodjatun said that the measures announced in the policy package which could be implemented had already been implemented on the date of the policy package’s announcements but that there are those which still waited implementation and which will be implemented in the coming weeks.
Dorodjatun was cut-off by PKPB DPR Member Ary Mardjono. Ary asked him why the Government felt the need to implement these policies. When Dorodjatun said that the policies were put in place to respond to the economic downturn, Ary interrupted saying that maintaining an average of 7% economic growth should be the task of the Government rather than trying to equal the 11.4% of 2000. Ary ended by saying anything other than prudent economic management is just trying to force a good year ahead of the 2002 Elections and the 2003 MPR General Session.
Things became heated when PKPI members began to get involved and the work meeting had to be prematurely stopped.
“So just because it’s close to the election, the Government should just stop caring about the economy?” demanded Sutradara Ginting “That would just be too convenient for the PKPB.”
18th May 2001:
After Friday Prayer and lunch, the President, accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Harsudiono Hartas and Edi Sudrajat, met with Chairman of KPU HBL Mantiri. Mantiri spoke about preparations for the elections and how at present the voters are being registered. Mantiri, however, had one request.
“An election date would be very helpful, Mr. President”, said Mantiri “It would allow the KPU to set dates for such things such as the final dates for candidate nominations and procurement schedules for ballot boxes and papers…”
After Mantiri left, Harsudiono stuck around.
“You could’ve named an election date then and there, you know?” asked Harsudiono.
“He doesn’t want to be seen as campaigning, Mr. Minister of Home Affairs”, said Edi pretending that Try was not in the room.
“Tutut and Megawati campaign, I on the other hand am busy with…” began Try
“Working”, said both Edi and Harsudiono, completing the President’s sentence.
“What about we look at it a different way?” asked Harsudiono “Your work is your campaign. Every policy success, every project inaugurated, every meeting with foreign leaders…they will and do contribute to your re-election.”
“There’s a thought…”, muttered Edi.
“But you have to help those who are trying help you, Mr. President”, said Harsudiono “If an election date can help the PKPI prepare better, then you have to do what you must. We want the PKPI to prepare better and do better, it will mean there will be more of us inside the room at the 2003 MPR General Session to support you.”
19th May 2001:
Chairman of DPR Harmoko, BJ Habibie, Wahono, Chairman of PPP Matori Abdul Djalil, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid, and Chairman of Muhammadiyah Amien Rais came out of a lunch meeting with the President at the Presidential Palace. Harmoko spoke on behalf of the Pancasila Coalition saying that:
-The Pancasila Coalition strongly supported the passing of the Zakat and Wakaf Laws and the abolition of discriminatory laws towards Chinese-Indonesians.
-The Pancasila Coalition strongly agreed with the measures taken by the Government to protect the economy against the world economic downturn.
-The Pancasila Coalition will continue to support President Try Sutrisno’s Government until the end of its term in March 2003
Harsudiono, Chief of BAKIN Ari Sudewo, and OCDS Sugeng Subroto watched this on a television screen in a room when the President stormed in accompanied by Edi.
“I can’t believe that Amien had not let go of the fact that it was not a Muhammadiyah man who became Minister of Education in the Cabinet Reshuffle”, snarled Try.
“What happened in there?” asked Ari.
“Amien asked if there were “inducements” the President could throw the coalition’s way to strengthen their commitment”, explained Edi “But he specifically asked if there was something for Muhammadiyah.”
“So much for wanting to join us because we’re standing up to Tutut”, shrugged Sugeng.
21st May 2001:
The President began the week with a cabinet meeting attended by Vice President JB Sumarlin and all cabinet ministers. The following were discussed.
*Minister of Economics and National Development Planning Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti reported about the continuing world economic downturn. The McCain Administration in the United States has just passed its tax cuts as did Russia’s President Yevgeny Primakov and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, all in a bid to stimulate their economies. Europe is about to slow down economically as well as it feels the effects of the downturn
President Try replied by asking what about the situation in Indonesia. Dorodjatun said that consumer spending is still strong. People are still buying goods and services, are still opening businesses, and are still being employed. Minister of Tourism Soeyono chimed in saying that his sector is “not as strong” as it should. There are less vacancies for employment in the tourism sector and people are reconsidering investment decisions to open hotels, restaurants, and cafes in tourist areas.
“I think, ministers, this goes to show that whatever the economic growth was in 2000, nothing can be taken for granted in 2001”, said the President “Make sure everything in the April 2001 Economic Package is implemented properly.”
*To cheers around the table, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ginandjar Kartasasmita announced that Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio De Sousa Franco has said he will be there for the 25th Anniversary Ceremony of East Timor’s Integration with Indonesia. Ginandjar said the ultimate aim will be diplomatic relations but he advised that Indonesia should take it one step at a time with Portugal.
Ginandjar also updated the cabinet about preparations for the upcoming G-15 Summit which has been finalized.
22nd May 2001:
The President had a meeting with Minister of Civil Service Reform Kuntoro Mangkusubroto. The latter advised that the government’s organization should be more streamlined. It doesn’t mean that there should be cuts to existing organizations, it just means that “redundant” organizations ought to be disbanded to free up resources for organizations that better reflect the Government’s priorities and will assist in delivering its programs in the last 2 years of its terms. Kuntoro also reminded the President that there were agencies whose formation is mandated by law but which the Government had not formed yet.
The President did not approve of anything so Kuntoro handed a series of recommendations to the President before he left.
23rd May 2001:
State Minister of Youth and Sports Hajriyanto Thohari and Chairman of KONI IGK Manila came out of a meeting with the President to announce that the President will attend the final match group match of Indonesia’s First Stage World Cup Football Qualifiers against China on Sunday at Senayan Stadium.
In a press conference, HBL Mantiri announced the following
-Official registration for all political parties will close on 30th June 2001
-Nominations and registrations for all candidates by political parties will close on 1st December 2001
When asked about the election date itself, Mantiri said that only the President knew that.
24th May 2001:
This Ascension Day Holiday, the President invited Harsudiono Hartas to lunch. Over some sate and lontong, the two friends shot the breeze until at last Harsudiono got to the matter at hand.
“You haven’t decided on an election date?” asked Harsudiono.
“No”, said Try shaking his head “I’m still wondering whether or not I should reward Amien’s request by throwing a bone or two Muhammadiyah’s way.”
“You should, Mr. President”, came the quick reply “Regardless of what happens in 2003, you need your coalition firmly behind you until the end of the term.”
“And if I don’t?” asked Try “The word I’m hearing from the grapevine is that he’s willing to switch sides provided that Tutut is not going to run for the presidency, fat chance of that happening.”
“If he doesn’t join Tutut, we don’t want him running around and then joining Megawati”, said Harsudiono “That’s just the kind of guy he is, that’s the kind of politician he is, regardless of what principles he claims to stand for.”
Try grunted.
“Try”, began Harsudiono, doing awal with protocol “You have two presidential daughters coming for you and you need to do what you can to survive.”
“Except it wasn’t supposed to be two presidential daughters, that’s what you told me when I appointed you Minister of Home Affairs”, said Try.
“Don’t start, Try…” said Harsudiono.
“You told me that Megawati was the danger”, continued Try “That’s why we had Sutjipto, one of her strongest supporters, in the cabinet at the start of the term…that’s why we had Meutia Hatta in the cabinet, you told me that the best way to counter Soekarno’s daughter was by having Hatta’s daughter as a minister…”
“My mistake was not putting Tutut as part of the equation”, said Harsudiono almost apologetically “I thought that you being the president, the Golkar National Congress would’ve accepted whoever you preferred as its chairman.”
“You told me I would only have 1 presidential daughter after me and now I have two”, said Try “I swear on the good days, I’m almost thankful that you nominated me as vice president in 1993 but on the bad days…”
“What? What about on the bad days?” challenged Harsudiono “That you regret it?”
“Something you obviously don’t feel”, said Try.
“I don’t”, said Harsudiono “I’ve always thought you were meant for the presidency. You’re a humane person and you have the capability to get support from many groups in society…”
Try sighed.
“My only regret is that you didn’t become president sooner”, said Harsudiono “In 1988, a group of us thought that Soeharto should be handing over the reins to our generation of officers…handing over to you. But he was so powerful and invincible that we felt the next best option was to make sure you were in a position to succeed him; that’s why you had to be the vice president.”
“I don’t know if he was ever going to let go, Hartas”, said Try.
“But it had to be tried because generational transition can’t be avoided and because Soeharto was starting to do more harm than good”, said Harsudiono “Lo and behold, 3 months before your term as vice president ended, you got the chance to take over.”
Try nodded his head.
“Look, Try”, began Harsudiono “If you were to go into battle against Tutut and Megawati, throw everything into the battle, and lose, that I would accept. But if you lose because you’re too afraid to maneuver politically or if you're too afraid to be seen to be campaigning, that would just be disappointing.”
“I suppose you’re right”, said Try.
“I got you into this mess, Try, I get that and I get that people like to joke around about that”, concluded Harsudiono “But I’m not going to leave you by yourself, don’t worry about it. I’m going to help you out.”
---
The National Export Strategy unveiled by Anthony Salim is based on his experiences with Indomie which is big in Africa (Indomie is very big in Africa OTL). Anthony Salim being Minister of Trade here puts him in a position to establish Indonesian FMCGs to as exports in the developing world
I wanted to convey what Amien Rais is like here. OTL, he was strongly for Abdurrahman Wahid as president before turning around and leading the charge to overthrow Wahid when he felt he couldn’t control Wahid. Very easy to change sides if he does not get his political way. ITTL, the only thing keeping him from changing sides is the fact that Tutut wants a shot at the presidency.
Try gets a pep talk from Harsudiono here. This is a reveal that I’d always had in my head when formulating this TL: the expected threat was always from Megawati but they didn’t count on Tutut becoming the Chairwoman of Golkar with all of its consequences and expected to be dealing with both Megawati and Tutut.
Harsudiono’s comments about Try being a potentially good leader and how Soeharto should have handed over in 1988 comes from an OTL interview he gave in 1999:
https://majalah.tempo.co/read/wawancara/94822/soeharto-menghendaki-habibie