Akbar becames Golkar's first-ever elected chairman
JAKARTA (JP): At the end of an intense three-day extraordinary congress yesterday, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung captured the Golkar chairmanship in the first ever voted election by the dominant political organization, which also said it was ready to become a formal political party.
Akbar, 52, defeated former minister of defense and security Edi Sudradjat, 60, by seven votes when, after a two-round secret ballot, he secured the support 17 of the 27 regional chapters.
In the first ballot Akbar received the support of 15 regional chapters, Edi received 11 while the chairman of the Yogyakarta chapter, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono, got one vote.
The congress guidelines stipulated that a candidate had to secure at least five votes to enter the next ballot, thus effectively leaving it a two-horse race.
It has been widely perceived that Akbar was strongly backed by President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto while Edi received the backing of retired senior generals.
Akbar was ebullient as the vote counter shouted out the 17th vote for Akbar after the second round.
"Seventeen is a really meaningful number for me and I believe for all of Indonesia, too," Akbar told reporters, referring to Aug. 17, 1945, the date Indonesia declared its independence.
Akbar and Edi quickly shook hands and hugged each other after it was confirmed who had won.
Akbar said his immediate task would be to consolidate Golkar.
"I need the help of all Golkar members to regain Golkar's past success and glory," he said. "I know it will take time to unify all Golkar members".
He praised his defeated rival and promised to seek his input for the future of the party.
Edi responded positively to Akbar's desire for consolidation, saying that he would persuade all his supporters to help Akbar develop Golkar into a better institution.
"There is no loser nor winner in the election as all of us are Golkar cadres," he said.
Edi also praised the congress committee for holding a democratic election and establishing guidelines for the next five-year term.
Rumors were rife in the corridors of the Hotel Indonesia, where the congress was held, that Assistant to the Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Maj. Gen. Mardiyanto, upon the instruction of Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, telephoned regional military commanders to influence Golkar's chapters nationwide to vote for Akbar.
Delegates also said that Wiranto met with chairmen of 17 Golkar regional chapters at Hotel Shangri-la in Central Jakarta yesterday morning to discuss the election.
To complete the lineup of his executive board, Akbar said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Tuswandi would assist him as Golkar's secretary- general.
Tuswandi's last position was an instructor at the National Resilience Institute.
Speaking of Golkar's commitment to reform, Akbar said Golkar would support the government's commitments to all international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the World bank, to bring an end to the economic crisis.
Negligence
Minutes after he won the election, many people were already focussing on whether or not he should quit the cabinet.
Akbar seemed to accept the idea but maintained that he should first consult President B.J. Habibie.
Other delegates were more direct.
Patron board member Hayono Isman, a known supporter of Edi, had no qualms about expressing his view on Akbar relinquishing his cabinet post.
"We have to accept the fact that Akbar Tandjung is the winner. We can only pray that he will resign his ministerial post. But Akbar's refusal to leave the post could have political ramifications in that Golkar will never be able to perform its role of controlling the government," Hayono, former state minister of youth affairs and sports, remarked.
Later last night, after a 3.5-hour meeting between Akbar and four representatives from regional chapters, the new Golkar chairman announced a huge executive lineup of 134 members.
The new executive board is made of 16 departments.
The previous board under Harmoko comprised 45 members in 14 departments.
Akbar also choose 14 deputies, including Adi Sasono, Fahmi Idris, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Agung Laksono, Abdul Gafur and Aulia Rahman. The latter three were deputies on the previous board.
Marzuki Darusman was selected as deputy secretary-general and Fadel Muhammad as treasurer.
Tantyo A.P. Sudharmono, the son of former Golkar chairman Sudharmono, was selected as Fadel's deputy.
The final item on the congress agenda, which dragged on till almost midnight, was a seven-point political statement.
The highlight of this was a formal declaration that the Golkar political organization was now ready to become a political party.
"In view of the future social and political developments, Golkar is ready to become a political party ... Golkar is ready to compete in the general election in such a multiparty system," said the statement.
Golkar also called on the government to present a concrete agenda to resolve the economic crisis, and the political empowerment of the population. (imn/byg)