Marwah threatens to quit Golkar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party continues to foment with
\ninternal disagreement, with a defiant politician warning that
\ndissatisfied members could form a breakaway party.<\/p>\n
Marwah Daud Ibrahim, a backer of former president B.J.
\nHabibie, charged the current Golkar leadership was indifferent to
\nalternative views in the party.<\/p>\n
She warned of a breakaway faction forming unless the
\nchairmanship of Akbar Tandjung was more responsive.<\/p>\n
\"We will wait. We need a party which respects different
\nopinions,\" said Marwah, who has been touted as proposing the
\nestablishment of the Madani Party.<\/p>\n
Marwah, who is a Golkar deputy chairman, refuted comments by
\nAkbar that she was no longer active in the party. Akbar said
\nMarwah was dissatisfied with the outcome of the October General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which
\nrejected Habibie leadership.<\/p>\n
She claimed her absence from the party's functions in recent
\nweeks was because she was visiting the regions to listen to
\npeople's aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Akbar's statement was unfair, discriminative and
\nbaseless,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Marwah and several Golkar politicians earlier set up an
\neastern Indonesian politician caucus, which could form the basis
\nof a new party.<\/p>\n
The caucus -- known by the acronym Iramasuka denoting Irian
\nJaya, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Sulawesi and Kalimantan -- firmly
\nsupported Habibie, who was born in Sulawesi, in his bid for a
\nsecond term in office.<\/p>\n
The threat of a splinter within the party has met with
\nindifference among other Golkar members.<\/p>\n
Golkar legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said Marwah and her
\nassociates were free to leave the party if they wished.<\/p>\n
\"Their voices are as individuals. Our regional chapters still
\nsupport us,\" Ferry, who is a former chairman of the Indonesian
\nMuslim Student Association (HMI) and a close friend of Akbar,
\nsaid on Monday.<\/p>\n
Akbar indicated earlier that he was unfazed by the threat of
\nsome members leaving the party.<\/p>\n
Former justice minister Muladi, a close aide of Habibie, also
\nrecently announced his resignation from Golkar.<\/p>\n
While those perceived as pro-Habibie supporters are
\nthreatening to leave Golkar, former members who exited during
\nHabibie's ascendance are indicating they will return.<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat and Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, who left
\nprior to the general election last year to establish the Unity
\nand Justice Party (PKP), reportedly plan to rejoin Golkar.<\/p>\n
Former public housing minister Siswono Yudohusodo and former
\nGolkar secretary-general Rachmat Witoelar were also seen at a
\nrecent Golkar discussion, strengthening speculation of their
\nreturn to the party's fold. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/marwah-threatens-to-quit-golkar-1447893297",
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