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)