Megawati Soekarnoputri

Past CONTROVERSIES:

1. While Megawati was in office, noted human rights activist Munir was poisoned to death on board a flight with state airline Garuda Indonesia to the Netherlands on Sept. 7, 2004. Officials with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) were initially accused of involvement in the case. On Jan. 25, 2008, the Supreme Court granted an appeal from prosecutors to detain Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a possible BIN agent, over his role in Munir's death. Pollycarpus is currently serving 20 years in jail. Another suspect, former BIN deputy chairman Muchdi Pr, was acquitted by the court on Dec. 31, 2008. Prosecutors are currently awaiting an appeal with the Supreme Court.

2. Megawati declared Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam a conflict zone, igniting a massive military effort against the rebel movement. More than 2,000 people were killed between 2001 and 2004.

3. Megawati signed a deal in 2002 to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Tangguh field in Papua to China's Fujian province. The deal drew heated criticism due to the low prices agreed upon in the contract. Yudhoyono and Kalla dubbed it "the most devastating contract ever made". Under the terms, the price was pegged at US$2.40 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), regardless of the increases in crude oil prices.

4. It was during Megawati's term that state holdings in PT Indosat, the nation's second largest telecommunication company, were controversially sold to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in late 2002. A lack of transparency throughout the sale prompted widespread criticism.

Noted Achievements

1. Megawati was accredited with repairing the country's economy and mobilizing fiscal policy toward stabilizing the markets for companies to function successfully and encourage entrepreneurs. The economy grew by 5.2 percent in 2004 against 3.32 percent in 2001.

2. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was formed during Megawati's time in office.

Wealth (As of Dec. 9, 2004)

Rp 86.26 billion

Prabowo Subianto

Past Controversies

1. Prabowo oversaw the kidnapping of dozens of political activists while serving as commander of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) between 1995 and 1998. 10 activists remain missing. The military honorary council discharged Prabowo on Aug. 24, 1998, for his role in the abductions. The council also stripped Prabowo's colleague Maj. Gen. Muchdi Pr from his post as Kopassus commander and barred him from future promotion as a consequence of his alleged involvement with assisting Prabowo.

2. Prabowo was allegedly involved in the deadly Jakarta riots between May 13 and 15, and the shooting of Trisakti University students during a protest on May 13. Four students were killed and 11 injured. Prabowo was the commander of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) at that time. He has repeatedly denied any involvement in the riots.

Noted achievements

As President Soeharto's son-in-law, Prabowo had all the funding and authority necessary to develop Kopassus into a highly effective force. In 2000, Prabowo and Titiek Soeharto divorced.

Wealth (As of May 18, 2009)

Rp 1.7 trillion.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Past controversies

1. 1996 riot: Allegedly involved in engineering a deadly riot after a mob took over the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) at the height of a power struggle between Megawati Soekarnoputri and rival Soerjadi on July 27, 1996. According to the National Human Rights Commission, five civilians were killed, 149 were injured and 23 were unaccounted for in the incident. However, several witness accounts say dozens were killed during the incident. Yudhoyono's position as Jakarta's military command chief of staff overseeing logistics and finance linked him to the case, along with former Jakarta governor, commander Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso. On May 19, 2000, then Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yudhoyono was questioned by the National Police as a witness in the case against Sutiyoso, who was named as a suspect in this incident. On Aug. 28, 2000, Yudhoyono said the case was engineered by an institution, not an individual, and denied any involvement. On June 11, 2004, Sutiyoso cleared Yudhoyono of involvement.

2. Lapindo mudflow disaster: Yudhoyono allegedly protected the family of Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Aburizal Bakrie from legal prosecution for gross negligence after his family's company, Lapindo Brantas, allegedly caused the eruption of a mud geyser, that has displaced more than 2,000 families, while it was mining for gas in Sidoardjo, East Java, on May 29, 2006. Yudhoyono has repeatedly denied allegations he is protecting the Bakries, who in large part financed his 2004 presidential campaign.

Noted achievements

1. Rooting out corruption at the tax office and the customs and excise office. Yudhoyono fully supported a proposal by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati to launch a reform of the tax and customs system in mid 2007, which has gone a long way in stopping protracted graft at the offices.

2. Security and political stability. Yudhoyono fully supported Vice President Jusuf Kalla's proposal to end the three-decade separatist conflict in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam in mid 2005 by negotiating with rebel leaders for a peace treaty.

Wealth (As of July 2, 2007)

Rp 7.14 billion and US$44.887

Boediono

Past controversies

1. BLBI Scandal: No issue taints Boediono other than his alleged involvement in the channelling of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI), which were intended to help keep the banking system afloat during the financial crisis in late 1997. Although allegations of his involvement remain blurred, critics and opposing politicians often blame him for the misuse of Rp 150 trillion (US$15 billion) by bank owners as he was Bank Indonesia (BI) director between 1993 and early 1998. Boediono and BI governor Soedradjad Djiwandono were sacked by former president Soeharto, partly for their actions towards banks owned by the Soeharto family and their cronies. On April 15, 2002, Boediono testified before court in a case involving businessmen Kaharuddin Ongko and Leonard Tanubrata, shareholders of the now-defunct Bank Umum Nasional, over their use of BLBI funds. Mohamad Bob Hasan, a golf buddy of Soeharto, is also a shareholder in the bank. In April 2003, the court dismissed all charges against the businessmen. Soedrajdad was named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office on May 30, 2002. Although the case is on going, Boediono has been cleared of any charges.

2. Proliferating graft at the tax and customs offices: During his tenure as Finance Minister between 2001 and 2004, Boediono had been seen as making less of an effort to clamp down on corruption at the offices. Analysts saw Boediono as being "clean" and honest personally, but failing to ensure the same was true of the institution as a whole.

Noted Achievements

1. During his tenure as finance minister, Boediono was accredited improving the country's macro-economy indicators and mobilizing fiscal policy to stabilize the economy. The economy grew by 5.2 percent in 2004, as compared to 3.32 percent in 2001.

Wealth (As of May 31, 2008)

Rp 18.6 billion and US$10,000

Jusuf Kalla

Past controversies

1. Lapindo mudflow disaster: Kalla and Yudhoyono have allegedly protected the family of Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Aburizal Bakrie from legal prosecution for gross negligence after his family's company, Lapindo Brantas, allegedly caused the eruption of a mud geyser, that has displaced more than 2,000 families, while it was mining for gas in Sidoardjo, East Java, on May 29, 2006. Kalla has repeatedly denied allegations he is protecting the Bakries, who in large part financed his 2004 vice presidential campaign. Aburizal has contributed the most to Kalla's political rise from a regional player from South Sulawesi to the Vice President and now, a contender for the presidency.

2. China factor: Kalla has spearheaded extensive deals with China related to the construction of power plants as part of the 10,000 megawatt power programs. The plants will be financed by Chinese banks in exchange for the inflow of Chinese steel, materials and manpower for use in several of the construction projects. Critics point out that this directly contradicts Kalla's repeated claims that he is for prioritizing the use of domestically made products.

3. Conflict of interest: Critics and opposing politicians have expressed concern that a conflict of interest exists between Kalla and his business group, NV Hadji Kalla. Kalla's company once imported 12 used helicopters from Germany without going through the proper procedures, leading Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati to confiscate the helicopters in 2006. Kalla said the helicopters were imported to contain forest fires in Sumatra and to help in relief efforts during natural disasters.

Noted achievements

1. Initiating a peace treaty that ended the three-decade separatist conflict in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam in mid 2005 by negotiating with rebel leaders in Sweden.

2. Insisting on the development of infrastructure, including highways, seaports, airports and power plants.

Personal Wealth (as of May 31, 2007)

Rp 253.9 billion and US$ 14,928

Wiranto

Past controversies

1. Wiranto is seen by the international community as being largely responsible for the human rights abuses and organized violence committed in East Timor after an Aug. 30, 1999 referendum demanded independence from Indonesia. Indonesian troops are allegedly responsible for razing large parts of the country after the referendum past. A group of United Nations' experts recommended in early 2003 that East Timor Court summon Wiranto for trial for the human rights abuses committed during this time. Both Wiranto and the Indonesian government have strongly denied the allegations. Wiranto was the Commander of the Indonesian Military cum Defense Minister at that time.

2. Wiranto is also accused of involvement in the riots that took place in Jakarta between May 13 and 15, 1998 and led to the downfall of President Soeharto's 32 year dictatorial rule. He was at the height of a clandestine battle against rival Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, who was at that time commander of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad). Contradicting versions of this power struggle from numerous retired TNI commanders have left the case entirely unresolved. In mid 2004, Wiranto's former junior officer Maj. Gen. (ret) Kivlan Zein blamed Wiranto for letting the riots erupt by preventing Kostrad from restoring order. Wiranto, who was at that time attending a TNI ceremony in East Java, denied the allegation. Wiranto has also been accused of responsibility for the shooting of Trisakti University students during a protest on May 13, 1998. Four students were killed by security forces.

Noted Achievements

1. Preventing a military coup during critical hours after Soeharto's resignation on May 21, 1998.

personal Wealth (As of May 18, 2004)

Rp 46.21 billion

Source: JP/Kompas/Tempo

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