Akbar admits 'betrayal' in coalition

Akbar admits 'betrayal' in coalition

JAKARTA: Golkar Party Chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Friday
that some Golkar faction members in the East Java Provincial
Council had cast their votes for Imam Utomo, enabling him to win
the gubernatorial election for his second term of office which
will end in 2008.

According to him, three Golkar councillors reportedly opposed
Golkar's ruling, asking legislators at the provincial legislative
council to join forces with the National Awakening Party and
National Mandate Party factions to support Abdul Kahfi in the
election.

"We are considering holding a meeting to discuss possible
disciplinary measures against those who defied the ruling," he
told reporters here when asked to comment on the East Java
gubernatorial election on Thursday.

Imam, who was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), won 63 of 100 votes to give him a
mandate for his second term of office. Kahfi nominated by PKB
faction, gained only 34 votes in the election. -- JP