Strange things afoot in KONI election<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The three-day congress of the National Sports Council (KONI)
\nbegan on Tuesday with the council chairmanship candidacy becoming
\na hot issue outside the meeting hall.<\/p>\n
"Do we still need permission from our superiors when we take
\non dual functions in this era? That should be out of fashion by
\nnow," Hari Sabarno, Minister of Home Affairs, said after his
\npresentation before the congress participants.<\/p>\n
"Go ahead if they want to run the race. That matter should be
\nthe domain of the election committee and the candidates
\nthemselves," Hari said.<\/p>\n
The minister was commenting on Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's
\nunilateral decision to campaign for the chairmanship without
\napproval from his superiors -- specifically President Megawati
\nSoekarnorputri or the home affairs minister.<\/p>\n
While he encouraged Sutiyoso to proceed, Hari, though,
\nconceded that the Jakarta Governor had never applied for approval
\nfrom the home minister's office.<\/p>\n
"Sutiyoso has not yet asked for approval from me nor from the
\npresident," Hari said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso is one of seven names standing in the race to succeed
\nWismoyo Arismunandar as the KONI chairman for the next four-year
\nterm.<\/p>\n
However, Rudolf Warouw, a member of the seven-strong screening
\nteam, said of the seven only three had qualified with regard to
\nthe requirements.<\/p>\n
The candidacy requires at least 10 supporters, and for
\ncandidates who currently hold political office, a letter of
\nendorsement from their superiors.<\/p>\n
The "qualified" three are Arie Sudewo, transportation minister
\nAgum Gumelar and Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.<\/p>\n
The other four are Iskandar Zulkarnain, legislator Oesman
\nSapta Odang, Andhy Gani Nena Wea and Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Like Sutiyoso, the others had fallen short of either obtaining
\na sufficient number of backers or getting their superiors'
\napproval.<\/p>\n
The race had initially saw ten names but Rita Subowo, Indra
\nDjati Sidi and Toho Cholik Mutohir decided to quit before the
\ncongress began.<\/p>\n
Warouw, who is also the secretary-general of the outgoing
\nboard, said that candidacy would be discussed during a commission
\nmeeting before being brought forward to the plenary session on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
"Let the plenary meeting decide which of the candidates are
\neligible to carry on and stand in the election at the end of the
\ncongress," he said.<\/p>\n
The day before, Joko Purnomo, a failed candidate in the 1997
\nsession, slammed the "permit" requirement as baseless, suggesting
\nall seven candidates be given equal chance to deliver their
\nvision before the convention.<\/p>\n
The opening day of the congress allowed a presentation by the
\nnational education office, the home affairs ministry and a number
\nof government's officials.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the congress committee has re-scheduled the planned
\npresentation over the sports agenda for the 2003-2007. Arie
\nSudewo, who is the deputy chairman of the outgoing board, had
\nbeen scheduled to be present the topic, but due to protests from
\nthe candidates he will be replaced.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/strange-things-afoot-in-koni-election-1447893297",
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