Jakarta – Amien Rais, the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, here on Friday urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri to curb the influence of her businessman husband, calling him "a disservice to this nation."

In an interview with Associated Press, Amien said Indonesia had made some important strides toward implementing democratic freedoms since the fall of former dictator Soeharto five years ago. But, he said President Megawati, daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, had surrounded herself with the same kind of corrupt politicians that had plagued the Soeharto dictatorship.

"That has severely hurt Indonesia's attempts to move forward, both politically and economically, in the post-Soeharto era," Amien, who is the contender in the 2004 presidential election, said.

As for the president's husband, businessman Taufik Kiemas, Amien said: "It is a public secret that he is not an asset. He is a liability," adding that "He is a disservice to this nation." AP noted that Western diplomats and the Indonesian media have repeatedly criticized Taufik for using his presidential connection to win lucrative business deals for himself and his cronies. But, the US news agency said efforts to reach Taufik by phone weren't successful.