Akbar to seek leave of absence to campaign for Golkar party

Akbar to seek leave of absence to campaign for Golkar party

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung will ask
President B.J. Habibie for a leave of absence so he can focus on
campaigning for Golkar Party ahead of the June 7 elections.

Akbar said he made the decision to allay fears he would misuse
state facilities while campaigning for Golkar, a practice common
in past elections.

"If possible, I would like the President to give me a leave of
absence before the campaign period starts," Akbar said. The
campaign period is slated for May 19 to June 4.

Akbar said the decision came after a marathon Golkar executive
meeting which finished at dawn on Tuesday. It also was decided at
the meeting that Akbar would be the only minister to campaign for
Golkar. Most of Habibie's 36-strong Cabinet are members of the
ruling Golkar.

However, the meeting failed to set a definite date for a
special meeting to discuss the party's presidential candidate.

Akbar said Golkar originally proposed to cofeature State
Minister of Public Housing Theo Sambuaga and State Minister of
Sports and Youth Affairs Agung Laksono in the campaign period.
The two are deputy chairmen of Golkar.

"What we decided reflects our commitment to make a break with
the past and go along with the reform movement," Akbar said.

He said Golkar also dropped wives of government officials from
its list of legislative candidates, although many of the party's
grassroots supporters wanted to nominate the women as candidates.

Akbar will represent Bogor regency as a legislative candidate
at the request of Golkar's branch there and will top the list of
the party's legislative candidates in West Java. In the June
polls, eight seats in the House of Representatives will be
available in Bogor, which has a population of 4.5 million.

In his capacity as minister/state secretary, Akbar said the
government would not issue a regulation on the issue of Cabinet
ministers campaigning for their respective parties.

"We no longer need such a regulation. Why should we issue it
if it turns out that only one or two ministers will campaign,"
Akbar said.

State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz is the other Cabinet
member who leads a party contesting the general election. Hamzah
chairs the United Development Party (PPP).

"I appeal for the Indonesian people's understanding (to allow
ministers who chair parties to campaign)," Akbar said.

In order to ensure fair and just elections, the General
Elections Commission (KPU) banned poll contestants from
recruiting state officials, including ministers, to campaign for
them. The ban sparked controversy because the President earlier
said all but five ministers would be allowed to campaign.

Akbar's statement on Tuesday appeared to end the dispute.

Akbar also denied allegations that Golkar had misused funds
from the social safety net program. "I demand those who accuse us
of such a malfeasance to provide evidence," he said, adding that
Golkar raised funds for the elections from its members and
supporters.

In Denpasar, Bali, secretary-general of the Justice and Unity
Party (PKP) Hayono Isman reiterated his warning that a certain
party could misuse state funds and facilities.

"We have to cooperate with other parties which are struggling
for reform to prevent the party from committing such a
malfeasance in order to maintain the status quo," Hayono said at
a congress hosted by PKP's Bali branch.

Hayono, a former Golkar member and minister during the
Soeharto regime, did not say which party he was referring to.

He said the government must remain impartial and fair in the
general election because most people still feared and obeyed
government officials.

A number of PKP members at the congress wore T-shirts bearing
the photo of former vice president Try Sutrisno, who is a member
of the party.

Hayono said PKP would allow all of its branches to campaign
for their respective presidential candidates.

In Purwokerto, Central Java, the local chairman of the
National Awakening Party (PKB), Noer Iskandar al-Barsany, said he
regretted continuous attacks by followers of a certain party
against PKB members. However, he said he asked his followers not
to take revenge for the attacks.

"I call on the leaders of the concerned party to stop the
attacks," Iskandar said, without identifying which party he was
referring to.

A number of clashes between PKB and PPP supporters have taken
place in the provincial towns of Tegal, Pekalongan, Jepara,
Pemalang, Temanggung and Sragen over the past two months.
(30/45/prb/amd)