Robert Go, Jakarta – A top rival of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has gone on the offensive, criticising the leadership and calling for a new man in the driver's seat.
The attacks come at a time when surveys have shown declining popularity ratings for the government.
Dr Amien Rais, speaker of the top legislative body, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), listed what he described as Jakarta's tendency to kowtow to foreign pressures among his chief complaints about the leadership.
He said: "Our leaders don't have self-confidence anymore. They're acting like servants in other countries. Foreign countries and bodies can dictate terms to Indonesia. If I were in charge, I would insist that foreigners treat Indonesia with the respect it deserves as a great country. I would stand up to everyone."
The ambitious politician also criticised scathingly Jakarta's asset-sale programme, which often involves foreign companies buying state firms and the government's ongoing failure to tackle graft. At this point, Dr Amien is alone in implying that Indonesia needs an urgent change of leadership.
Most analysts and politicians are taking for granted that Ms Megawati will remain in office until the next election in 2004. But his complaints that conditions have failed to change for the better since Ms Megawati took charge last year are representative of the general mood of the common people and of the political elite.
For instance, Mr Eros Djarot, who was one of the President's top advisers until two years ago, is concerned about how the First Family's personal business dealings could lead to corruption.
Mr Eros, who has now set up his own political party, said on Thursday: "The President's family members might take advantage of the President's power to make a success of their business undertakings, as was the case during the New Order regime." Indeed, much attention has been paid to the various business deals and connections of Mr Taufik Kiemas, Ms Megawati's husband.
The administration is also under scrutiny for possible corrupt actions by serving officials, including a number of legislators, Attorney-General M.A. Rachman and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who was recently re-elected thanks in part to Ms Megawati's support.
Parliamentary Speaker Akbar Tandjung has been convicted of graft, but he has kept his job and he is still the head of the Golkar party pending an appeal process.
Mr Hermawan Sulistyo of the Conflict and Peace Research Network said: "Field analysis suggests that there are many valid complaints about the government." He added that Dr Amien and others had fared as poorly as Ms Megawati in polls, and that "a credible alternative" was lacking.
He said: "I'd be very surprised if Amien Rais gets even 5 per cent in a direct election now. He stands to get much less than that in 2004."