Golkar and PPP confident of gains in next election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP),
\nwhich swept the most seats in the past five general elections,
\nremained confident of a strong showing in the next election
\ndespite the political fallout and competition from new parties.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, and PPP official Hadimulyo,
\nexpressed confidence over the weekend that people would still
\nsupport and trust the two political groupings.<\/p>\n
\"I have traveled to several regions and found that the
\npeople's appreciation for Golkar remains high,\" he said during a
\ndiscussion on the prospective of existing political parties in
\nthe next general election.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar currently has 30 million members, who make up about 25
\npercent of overall eligible voters.<\/p>\n
\"We also have comprehensive infrastructure to reach and
\nconsolidate our cadres in villages. These are our assets,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also minister\/state secretary, said Golkar would
\nintroduce a new outlook to lure people's attention and support
\nfor the ruling political organization.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar will be more responsive to absorb and struggle for the
\npeople's aspiration. Golkar will not hesitate to correct
\ngovernment officials' wrongdoings,\" he claimed.<\/p>\n
Golkar's strength would also likely come from its decision to
\nmaintain the relationship with its traditional allies -- the
\nArmed Forces (ABRI) and the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri).<\/p>\n
\"ABRI has an historical relationship with Golkar. ABRI has the
\nsame perception as Golkar in viewing pluralism of the Indonesian
\npeople,\" said Akbar, who took over Golkar's top post from Harmoko
\nin an extraordinary congress last month.<\/p>\n
Golkar was established in October 1964 by seven social and
\npolitical groupings, including the Armed Forces, to counter the
\nincreasing threats of the now outlawed Indonesian Communist Party
\n(PKI).<\/p>\n
ABRI is also one of the three main components in the makeup of
\nGolkar's leadership. The other two are Korpri and mass
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
Akbar did not rule out the possibility of Golkar forming a
\ncoalition with other political parties, as long as there was a
\nconformity in their platform.<\/p>\n
\"We'll form a coalition only with parties of the same
\nplatform,\" he said, adding that several parties could meet this
\ncriteria. He did not mention which ones.<\/p>\n
Akbar then brushed aside suggestions that it would become
\nincreasingly impotent as its main source of funding, the Dakab
\nfoundation, would likely cease.<\/p>\n
\"Several Golkar supporters and sympathizers have spontaneously
\ngranted financial assistance to us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Former vice president Sudharmono, who currently runs the
\nfoundation, said in June that the foundation would not relinquish
\nthe funds to either Golkar or the government but would instead
\ncontinue their various social projects.<\/p>\n
The Dakab foundation was set up in July 1985 mainly to finance
\nGolkar's social activities. Its assets are estimated at Rp 836.2
\nbillion (US$65 million).<\/p>\n
Golkar and PPP have consistently been the top vote getters in
\npast elections.<\/p>\n
The regular pattern was that Golkar gained an overwhelming
\nmajority, with PPP winning most of the remaining seats at the
\nHouse of Representative followed by the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) a distant third.<\/p>\n
During the 1997 election, 112,161,955 valid ballots were cast,
\n89.9 percent of the country's 124.7 million registered voters<\/p>\n
Golkar won 325 of the 425 House seats with 84,187,907 votes.<\/p>\n
It was the best performance ever for Golkar.<\/p>\n
PPP won 89 House seats, while the embattled PDI, with a
\nleadership battle between Megawati Soekarnoputri and Soerjadi,
\neventually winning 11 seats.<\/p>\n
With the resignation of Soeharto in May, a new political
\nclimate has emerged. The government has relaxed its restriction
\non political parties and now, some 40 new parties have formed.<\/p>\n
Golkar in particular is expected to suffer the most severe
\nfallout from Soeharto's departure as it was long perceived as a
\nloyal Soeharto supporter.<\/p>\n
PPP<\/p>\n
Separately, Hadimulyo said he was confident that the next
\ngeneral election, which would be held under a new electoral law,
\nwould bring fortune to the Moslem-oriented party.<\/p>\n
He noted that in past elections, which were filled with
\naccusations of manipulating in favor of Golkar, PPP was still
\nable to win a good share of the votes. Thus, under a fairer
\nsystem, it should thrive even better.<\/p>\n
\"We were still able to secure support from 25 million voters
\nin an unfair and manipulative general election last year,\" he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless he did not dismiss the serious threat from the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), which is headed by Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Moslem organization leaders, and the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN), chaired by the popular Amien Rais of the Moslem
\nMuhammadiyah organization.<\/p>\n
NU and Muhammadiyah members were believed to have made up a
\nstrong support basis for PPP in the past.<\/p>\n
\"With the new system, however, we can expect some improvement
\nin our achievements,\" he confidently remarked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the Crescent Star Party, Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra, said his party would be realistic and ready to dissolve
\nif it failed to obtain strong public support during the election.<\/p>\n
\"Why must we maintain the party's existence if it fails to
\nattract support from the people?\" he said, reported Antara from
\nSamarinda, East Kalimantan, Saturday.<\/p>\n
Yusril said that at this present juncture, it would be
\ndifficult to predict the outcome of the election, expected to be
\nheld in May or June next year, or even how well his newly formed
\nparty would do.<\/p>\n
\"I, therefore, do not dare to make predictions about the
\nnumber of people who will vote for my party in the election,\" he
\nsaid after addressing a seminar on regional autonomy. (imn)<\/p>",
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