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