Soeharto urged to help poor people<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung has urged former
\npresident Soeharto to direct the Dakab Foundation to hand over
\nits funds to the government to help low-income families weather
\nthe crisis.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who had previously demanded that the money be given to
\nGolkar since the foundation's mission was to finance the
\npolitical grouping's activities, said on Saturday Golkar could
\nfind its own financial sources. The foundation's funds could be
\nused to feed starving people, instead.<\/p>\n
"Golkar has sent a letter to the former president, who chairs
\nDakab, to give the money to the government," Akbar told Golkar
\nleaders in Jambi.<\/p>\n
Dakab was set up in July 1985. Its assets are worth Rp 836.2
\nbillion (US$70 million).<\/p>\n
Soeharto also chairs four other foundations, their cumulative
\nassets totaling about Rp 3.7 trillion.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib disclosed on Tuesday
\nthat his office had found that one of the foundations had some
\ndiscrepancies in the management of its funds.<\/p>\n
Soeharto lost his position as chief of Golkar's board of
\npatrons during the party's extraordinary congress in July.<\/p>\n
The former president has refused to hand over the foundation's
\nfunds to Golkar, saying that it did not belong to the party.<\/p>\n
Akbar apparently became upset when he realized that Soeharto
\nhad decided to directly finance provincial Golkar chapters
\nwithout his consent.<\/p>\n
The Golkar chairman met with Soeharto last month and offered
\nhim a Rp 26 billion house on behalf of President B.J. Habibie,
\nsaying the former executive was entitled to a luxury residence
\nfor his services to the country for 32 years.<\/p>\n
The offer apparently failed to woo Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"I have asked all Golkar leaders in the provinces not to
\nreceive money (from Soeharto) because it may divide and cause
\nconflict among us," Akbar was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Akbar said he remained optimistic that he would still able to
\ncollect donations from Golkar supporters despite the economic
\ncrisis. (prb)<\/p>",
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