ABSTRACT
Dr B. J. Habibie became President of Indonesia on 21 May 1998 on the resignation of President Suharto against a background of economic crisis and political turbulence. As vice-president, elected by the People's Consultative Assembly, he succeeded to high office for the remainder of the presidential term under article eight of Indonesia's constitution. Mohammad Hatta, who proclaimed the independence of Indonesia jointly with Sukarno on 17 August 1945, was the republic's first vice-president. He played a critical role in the concurrent office of prime minister from January 1948 in guiding the embryonic state during the struggle for independence from the Dutch during which he also articulated the ideal of an 'independent and active' foreign policy for the republic. Datuk Harris Mohamad Salleh was chief minister of Sabah from June 1976 until April 1985. Mohammad Hatta was born in western Sumatra on 12 August 1902.
