Akbar set to resign in party's interest

Akbar set to resign in party's interest

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on
Friday that he would give up his ministerial post so that he
could lead the election campaign for Golkar, the political party
he chairs.

Akbar was commenting on a unanimous decision reached by the
General Election Commission (KPU) earlier in the day to uphold a
rule banning political parties from recruiting state officials,
including ministers, for electoral campaigns.

"It's an irony if a party chairman who is also a legislative
candidate does not campaign for his party. I must do it, because
it is part of my duties," Akbar said before a meeting of party
executives last night.

But he was unwilling to say when he planned to talk to
President B.J. Habibie about his plans to resign, saying that he
would first ask Golkar's representative on the KPU for further
details of the decision, which was taken in a plenary meeting
held in the absence of the commission chairman Rudini.

Rudini is currently touring Sumatra to monitor preparations
for the election.

KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution, who presided over
the meeting in Rudini's absence, said that representatives of the
48 parties contesting the election reached the decision in a
democratic manner.

Akbar and State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, the
chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), have both
insisted on campaigning for their respective parties. Hamzah has
said he would be prepared to resign if left with no other choice.

"We are all of the same view that both Akbar Tandjung and
Hamzah Haz cannot campaign, unless they resign as ministers,"
Adnan said.

"Both Golkar and PPP should welcome the agreement. Golkar, for
example, was in power for many years and regularly abused state
facilities," Adnan added.

The decision overruled a previous agreement reached between
KPU chairman Rudini and President B.J. Habibie under which both
Akbar and Hamzah were required to take leave of absence while
carrying out party duties. The President was also asked to
appoint temporary replacements for the two men.

Golkar's representative on the KPU, Mahadi Sinambela, told
reporters that despite Akbar's disappointment, the ruling party
accepted the decision.

"We abide by the KPU's regulations. Perhaps it will help us
win back the people's support," he said.

Golkar's popularity has been waning since the ouster of former
president Soeharto, who was the party's chief patron, in May last
year. To add insult to injury, the party is now facing
allegations that it has been misusing foreign aid allocated to
the social safety net program.

Akbar has repeatedly flouted the KPU ban on ministers
campaigning, saying only the President had the right to decide on
the matter.

Mahadi's PPP counterpart, Djuhad Mahja, said the KPU decision
was of no consequence to the Muslim-based party, adding that his
party had planned to work around the ban right from when it was
first announced in March. (edt/rms/amd)