Golkar still undecided over presidency, vice presidency<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar has not formally named B.J. Habibie and
\nGen. Wiranto its candidates for president and vice president
\nrespectively, a party official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said the process to
\nselect the candidates for the country's number one and two posts
\nwas still underway. He added that the selection results would be
\nannounced in mid-October.<\/p>\n
Marzuki was commenting on Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung who
\nsaid on Sunday that the party would nominate incumbent President
\nHabibie and Minister of Defense and Security\/Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) Commander Wiranto as candidates for president and vice
\npresident respectively.<\/p>\n
Akbar met with Habibie on Sunday, although Marzuki said such a
\nmeeting had become a routine.<\/p>\n
\"What he (Akbar) talked about was his personal wish, not
\nGolkar's decision,\" Marzuki said after attending a seminar on
\nhuman rights.<\/p>\n
\"The decision to determine who will be Golkar's candidates
\nwill be made in the upcoming executive meeting,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Marzuki, regarded as a persistent critic of Habibie, refused
\nto give more comments on the matter, saying he would seek Akbar's
\nclarification.<\/p>\n
Akbar was scheduled to attend a meeting among Golkar
\nexecutives for either late Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A source told Kompas that Habibie pressed Akbar in Sunday's
\nmeeting to consider stern measures against those in the party who
\nopposed his presidential bid, including Marzuki.<\/p>\n
Another Golkar figure, Muladi, dismissed the report, labeling
\nit an unfounded rumor. \"It was like a meeting between family
\nmembers,\" Muladi said.<\/p>\n
Separately in Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal
\npredicted that Golkar would not replace Habibie due to its
\nconservative stance, regardless of Habibie's tarnished image
\nfollowing the Bank Bali scandal and the result of a self-
\ndetermination referendum in East Timor which saw 78.5 percent of
\nthe voters opt against autonomy within Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar has always nominated the incumbent, and a decision to
\ndrop Habibie would be met with a huge challenge. The party will
\nlikely go ahead with Habibie's nomination, although if the one
\nman, one vote applies in the presidential election, there is a
\npossibility that some Golkar representatives will vote for other
\ncandidates,\" Amal said.<\/p>\n
He said Akbar's statement further disclosed a serious crack in
\nthe party pitting Marzuki and his camp against those who were
\nsupportive of Habibie. (emf\/prb\/44)<\/p>",
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