Akbar clears Golkar screening for presidency<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party announced on Thursday the 19 people who will
\ncontest the convention held to select the party's presidential
\ncandidates, including its chairman Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who was sentenced to three years in jail for corruption
\ninvolving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), qualified for the
\nconvention, thanks to the lax rules of the game.<\/p>\n
The party chairman remains free pending a Supreme Court
\nverdict on his appeal. The court may delay the announcement of
\nthe verdict as it will replace one of the five justices hearing
\nthe case, Laica Marzuki, following his appointment to the
\nConstitutional Court.<\/p>\n
\"The committee's screening has found that all 19 of the
\ncandidates met the requirements to contest the convention,\"
\nOetojo Oesman, who chairs the convention committee, said on
\nThursday,<\/p>\n
The requirements have included written confirmation from the
\nstate court stating that candidates are not convicts serving at
\nleast five years in jail, and from the commercial court stating
\nthey are not bankrupt.<\/p>\n
Golkar has made another change to the rules regarding the
\nminimum education of candidates. Under the amended regulation
\nsenior high school graduates can contest the convention, in the
\nsame way as it is stipulated in the presidential election law.<\/p>\n
Other candidates include Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Jusuf Kalla, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X,
\nformer Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, former
\nchief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen.
\n(ret) Prabowo Subianto, former justice minister Muladi,
\nbusinessman Aburizal Bakrie, media mogul Surya Paloh and Golkar
\nlegislators Marwah Daud Ibrahim and Theo Sambuaga.<\/p>\n
Oetojo said the candidates would tour a number of cities
\nacross the country to promote their vision and mission, from next
\nweek through Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
According to the preliminary itinerary, rallies will be held
\nin South Sumatra on Aug. 24, North Sumatra (Aug. 25), Aceh (Aug.
\n26), West Sumatra (Aug. 27) and Riau (Aug. 28).<\/p>\n
Rully Chairul Azwar, deputy secretary of the convention
\ncommittee, said the candidates were prohibited from resorting to
\nmoney politics and defaming other candidates. The committee, he
\nsaid, would disqualify candidates who ignored three straight
\nwarnings.<\/p>\n
Golkar will shortlist five candidates in October and select
\none of them in the national convention scheduled for February
\nnext year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/akbar-clears-golkar-screening-for-presidency-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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