'Golkar should lose Akbar or face more distrust'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Golkar risks losing what little credibility it has left and
\nthe next general elections with it if it insists on keeping
\nconvicted fraudster Akbar Tandjung as its chairman, political
\nanalysts say.<\/p>\n
Already tainted by being the defender of former president
\nSoeharto's 32 years of corrupt, authoritarian rule, Golkar's
\nimage is being further pounded with Akbar's insistence to stay
\nput.<\/p>\n
The party should have the courage to regain credibility by
\nremoving its convicted chairman, political analyst Cecep Effendi
\nsaid here on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The party is taking a big risk if it insists on retaining
\nAkbar,\" Jakarta-based 1945 Islamic University (Unisma) rector
\nCecep said during a discussion attended by Golkar legislators
\nMarwah Daud Ibrahim and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan in the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
Fellow scholar Irfan Manulang from the University of Indonesia
\n(UI) said Akbar's unwillingness to relinquish his post and the
\nsupport of his party showed it did take account of its
\nconstituents' views.<\/p>\n
Golkar executive leader Marwah Daud Ibrahim has openly urged
\nAkbar to resign, saying the move would benefit Golkar and Akbar
\nhimself.<\/p>\n
He said Akbar should quit his post as Speaker of the House of
\nRepresentatives and resign as Golkar's chairman.<\/p>\n
\"This move will help Akbar regain credibility,\" said Marwah,
\nwho represents Iramasuka, a dissenting faction within Golkar,
\nmainly comprised of legislators from eastern parts of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Marwah made similar calls at a limited Golkar leadership
\nmeeting on Wednesday. Akbar's loyalists condemned the call.<\/p>\n
Marwah was not alone, but was supported by Golkar executives
\nTheo L. Sambuaga and Fahmi Idris, two figures who held
\nministerial posts during former president B.J. Habibie's tenure.<\/p>\n
Akbar ally Rambe Kamarulzaman said the dissenting trio were
\ncondemned by the seven other Golkar leaders at the meeting.<\/p>\n
The seven were M.S. Hidayat, Freddy Latumahina, Mahadi
\nSinambela, Bomer Pasaribu, Aulia Rachman, Budi Harsono, and Rambe
\nhimself.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers, Akbar said that
\nthe calls from Golkar cadres for his resignation were just their
\nopinions.<\/p>\n
\"Opinions are common. Finally, the meeting agreed to stick to
\ninternal rules and the party's leadership remains in my hands,\"
\nAkbar said.<\/p>\n
Ferry, one of Akbar's supporters, meanwhile said Golkar's
\nproblem did not just lay with Akbar himself.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar had been the target of people's anger during
\nthe 1999 campaign and would remain a target of criticism.<\/p>\n
\"If Akbar resigns, the criticism of Golkar will not end
\nimmediately. Besides, Pak Akbar is a figure of unity in Golkar,\"
\nFerry said.<\/p>\n
He defended Akbar's position, saying that people's hatred of
\nGolkar would be measured during the 2004 elections, not by
\ndismissing Akbar.<\/p>",
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