Analysts say Golkar convention benefits Akbar<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The national convention held by Golkar to select its presidential
\ncandidate is a move to divert attention from legal problems
\ninvolving its chairman Akbar Tandjung and may serve merely as a
\nvehicle for him to secure the coveted ticket to the 2004
\npresidential election, an analyst says.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar has been mired by mounting problems, the latest being
\nAkbar's three-year prison sentence, but it has to survive the
\nturmoil and the convention is the way out,\" Bachtiar Effendi of
\nthe University of Indonesia said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Akbar was convicted of misusing state funds intended to feed
\nthe poor when he was the state secretary during the 17-month
\nadministration of president B.J. Habibie between 1998 and 1999.
\nAkbar is currently waiting for the Supreme Court decision over
\nhis appeal.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar said Akbar stands a great chance of winning the
\nconvention as he is a seasoned politician who has survived the
\ndifficulties faced by the political vehicle of New Order regime
\nso far.<\/p>\n
\"It remains to be seen in the convention whether other
\ncandidates can match Akbar's political skills in gaining support
\nfrom the party's provincial chapters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar had survived moves from factions within and outside the
\nparty who wanted him to relinquish his post as party chairman and
\nHouse of Representatives speaker following his conviction.<\/p>\n
From July 11 through July 30, 2003, Golkar opens registration
\nfor presidential candidates who will represent the party in the
\n2004 election. The national convention is scheduled for February
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
Several figures, including respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish
\nMadjid, media tycoon Surya Paloh, Gen. (ret.) Wiranto and the
\nformer chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad),
\nLt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto have reportedly decided to join
\nthe convention.<\/p>\n
The convention followed the House's approval of the
\ncontroversial presidential election bill, which will enable a
\ndefendant to run for the presidency.<\/p>\n
Separately, another political analyst Arbi Sanit
\nexpressed doubt that the convention would help build Golkar's new
\nimage as a political party that strives to uphold democracy.<\/p>\n
He warned that the convention would be used by Akbar to gather
\npopular support for his presidential bid.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar will be considered sincere in its efforts to select
\nthe best presidential candidate if the convention selects a
\nfigure like Nurcholish,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He regretted the fact that the efforts to build democracy were
\nmade by Golkar party, not others who claim to be the protagonists
\nof the reform movement that ousted former president Soeharto in
\n1998,<\/p>\n
Separately, Akbar dismissed allegations that Golkar had hidden
\nmotives behind the convention.<\/p>\n
\"The convention will pave the way for all sectors of the
\ncommunity, especially those at the provincial level, to nominate
\ntheir presidential candidates,\" he said on the sidelines of his
\nvisit to the Southeast Sulawesi capital of Kendari.<\/p>\n
The convention would constitute a Golkar effort to apply the
\nprinciples of democracy in the selection of presidential
\ncandidates, he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar maintained that he was now concentrating on Golkar's
\npreparations for the general election next year.<\/p>\n
\"My attention is now focused on my job as Golkar chairman. I
\nhave yet to think about other matters because of the daunting
\nchallenges we will be facing in next year's election,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analysts-say-golkar-convention-benefits-akbar-1447893297",
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