THE black Mercedes-Benz stopped in front of the auditorium of the Social Agency of the Pasuruan Regency in Bangil, East Java, last Saturday. Dozens of people hurriedly gathered around and struggled to shake hands with the special guest: Amien Rais.

The presence of the former 1998 reform "star" was special—not because he is Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), but because the visit of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Chair