Golkar boss threatens to drop axe on Kalla

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.