Finally the smoke is clear and the answer to a rather puzzling question is revealed. Akbar Tanjung, after his usual let-people-keep-guessing style, announced his intention to contest the presidential candidate selection at his party's convention. It is a bold and outrageous decision.

True, politics is politics and all kinds of shenanigans and silly moves are part of the game. But this one seemed to be so disgraceful that demands more than a little serious attention.  Akbar Tanjung is right to himself on his decision. After all, in politics the usual motto is "Get power at all costs and keep power at all costs."  But will public, after decades of witnessing and living under politics at all costs environment, tolerate and accept such a decision?

Mr. Tanjung is more than a convicted felon -- after found guilty by the lower court in a Rp 40 billion (US$4.7 million) graft case and now he is waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict regarding his appeal. He is also a key figure of the New Order Regime, a regime which undoubtedly mismanaged the country so badly for almost three decades. Majority of people view key figures of the regime untrustworthy and incompetent of performing public services. They want those who ruled or held authority under the New Order Regime to go away. Is Mr. Tanjung trying to beat the bad perception or simply to meet Plato’s words, “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”

Thanks that politics and power are not part of Mathematics where two wrongs (read: negatives) make things right (read: positive). In politics or any other subjects other than Math, two wrongs will produce much worse outcomes. But Mr. Tanjung is a true politician, not a statesman, who apparently disagrees with it. There are two fundamental differences between politician and statesman. A politician thinks of the next election and a statesman thinks of the next generation.  Also, a statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation while a politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.

More than ever, Indonesia needs statesmen, not politicians. People already hate politics and they are already sick of witnessing politicians who are hungry for self- enrichment at the cost of public resources.  People have been tired of politicians who make promises that won't come true because they don't even mean them. Charles De Gaulle said “Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.” But this time, it’s difficult to believe that people will take Mr. Tanjung at his word.  Although he will unlikely win his party’s nomination – unless money politics triumphs --, let alone the general election, Mr. Tanjung’s decision to enter the race is difficult to comprehend. It seems he is selling his soul for power.

The last thing we need is politicians who fight for power at all costs.