Akbar set to resign in party's interest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on
\nFriday that he would give up his ministerial post so that he
\ncould lead the election campaign for Golkar, the political party
\nhe chairs.<\/p>\n
Akbar was commenting on a unanimous decision reached by the
\nGeneral Election Commission (KPU) earlier in the day to uphold a
\nrule banning political parties from recruiting state officials,
\nincluding ministers, for electoral campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"It's an irony if a party chairman who is also a legislative
\ncandidate does not campaign for his party. I must do it, because
\nit is part of my duties,\" Akbar said before a meeting of party
\nexecutives last night.<\/p>\n
But he was unwilling to say when he planned to talk to
\nPresident B.J. Habibie about his plans to resign, saying that he
\nwould first ask Golkar's representative on the KPU for further
\ndetails of the decision, which was taken in a plenary meeting
\nheld in the absence of the commission chairman Rudini.<\/p>\n
Rudini is currently touring Sumatra to monitor preparations
\nfor the election.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution, who presided over
\nthe meeting in Rudini's absence, said that representatives of the
\n48 parties contesting the election reached the decision in a
\ndemocratic manner.<\/p>\n
Akbar and State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, the
\nchairman of the United Development Party (PPP), have both
\ninsisted on campaigning for their respective parties. Hamzah has
\nsaid he would be prepared to resign if left with no other choice.<\/p>\n
\"We are all of the same view that both Akbar Tandjung and
\nHamzah Haz cannot campaign, unless they resign as ministers,\"
\nAdnan said.<\/p>\n
\"Both Golkar and PPP should welcome the agreement. Golkar, for
\nexample, was in power for many years and regularly abused state
\nfacilities,\" Adnan added.<\/p>\n
The decision overruled a previous agreement reached between
\nKPU chairman Rudini and President B.J. Habibie under which both
\nAkbar and Hamzah were required to take leave of absence while
\ncarrying out party duties. The President was also asked to
\nappoint temporary replacements for the two men.<\/p>\n
Golkar's representative on the KPU, Mahadi Sinambela, told
\nreporters that despite Akbar's disappointment, the ruling party
\naccepted the decision.<\/p>\n
\"We abide by the KPU's regulations. Perhaps it will help us
\nwin back the people's support,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar's popularity has been waning since the ouster of former
\npresident Soeharto, who was the party's chief patron, in May last
\nyear. To add insult to injury, the party is now facing
\nallegations that it has been misusing foreign aid allocated to
\nthe social safety net program.<\/p>\n
Akbar has repeatedly flouted the KPU ban on ministers
\ncampaigning, saying only the President had the right to decide on
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
Mahadi's PPP counterpart, Djuhad Mahja, said the KPU decision
\nwas of no consequence to the Muslim-based party, adding that his
\nparty had planned to work around the ban right from when it was
\nfirst announced in March. (edt\/rms\/amd)<\/p>",
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