Golkar boss threatens to drop axe on Kalla

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung threatened on Thursday to dismiss Jusuf Kalla -- who is contesting the runoff as the running mate of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono -- as a party member, for acts and statements that he considered detrimental to party unity.

Akbar said party executives would discuss Kalla's possible dismissal.

"I am concerned about Kalla's recent acts and statements. He has interfered in the internal affairs of Golkar, therefore it is possible that we will dismiss him," Akbar said during his visit to Manado in South Sulawesi.

Akbar was referring to Kalla's participation in a meeting with some Golkar politicians who defied the party's decision to support Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the election runoff, scheduled for Sept. 20. The defiant Golkar members set up the Golkar Reform Forum.

Separately, Kalla said he was ready to resign from Golkar should it be proven that he had violated the party's statute.

"It is natural that some Golkar members have asked the party to axe me, but it was Akbar who approved my decision to run with the Democratic Party's candidate," Kalla said.

Kalla accepted the offer from Susilo after losing in the Golkar convention.

Following a meeting with Akbar, who was also eliminated in the convention, Kalla said he did not relinquish his membership in the country's largest party.

Golkar was torn between Susilo-Kalla and Megawati-Hasyim after its presidential candidate Wiranto lost in the first round of the election in July. Akbar preferred Megawati, who leads the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which finished second behind Golkar in the legislative election in April.

In mid-August, Golkar and the PDI-P declared the so-termed Nationhood Coalition, which also comprises the United Development Party and the Prosperous Peace Party. They hold the clear majority in the next House of Representatives.

Separately, hundreds of members of Golkar's youth wing staged a rally in front of the party's headquarters in Jakarta, demanding the dismissal of Kalla as well as other "defiant" members such as Fahmi Idris, Marzuki Darusman and Burhanuddin Napitupulu.

Meanwhile, in Bandung, Marzuki defended his decision to establish the Golkar Reform Forum, saying it was not aimed at support the Susilo-Kalla ticket.

"I clarify that in the forum there was no statement at all to support either of the presidential candidates," Marzuki told Antara.

The former attorney general added that Kalla was present in his capacity as a Golkar member.

Marzuki said the forum was anticipating the defeat of Megawati, asserting that Golkar would survive only by joining the winning team.

He also said he had reported the development of the forum to Akbar, and doubted that Golkar would dismiss the forum members.

Meanwhile, Kalla submitted his revised wealth report to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday. With his assets, as of Aug. 31, valued at Rp 204.5 billion (US$22 million) and US$14,900, he is the richest among those contesting the runoff.

In his report to the commission early this year, Kalla's wealth stood at some Rp 123 billion.

Kalla, who is a businessman, said the value of his companies had increased by 66 percent, which he attributed to an increase of some Rp 81 billion to his total assets.

"There is an increase in the value of my shares in a number of companies, as well as the hike of my fixed assets' value," he said after a meeting with KPK leaders.

Megawati, Hasyim and Susilo had previously declared their wealth.