Evil Leaders

IN THE OLDEN days we would describe leaders as either mediocre or corrupt. Times have changed, and a new term has emerged: corrupt leaders. Certain names come to mind, but it would be politically incorrect, if not risky, to name them here in writing.

- Taufik Darusman

Leave it to academics such as Prof. Mahfud MD to come up with yet a new political term: evil leaders. Mahfud knows more than a thing or two about leaders as he has the right credentials: the legal expert was once a defence and security minister, a House member, and the chairman of the Constitutional Court. At present he is a member of the steering council of BPIP, the state body that promotes the state ideology Pancasila.

Mahfud did not allude to a political party leader – or any leader, for that matter – when he raised the ominous issue. Interestingly enough, his astute observation on types of leaders came up in the wake of his recent loss as the running mate of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who is seeking reelection next year. As Mahfud later disclosed, he was sidelined at the eleventh hour. Jokowi, Mahfud fumed, had come under pressure from political party leaders to reject him and choose another candidate.