Golkar considers withdrawing from race for MPR leadership

Kurniawan Hari and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Golkar Party is considering withdrawing from the race for the deputy People's Consultative Assembly speaker's post in an attempt to boost the chances of Sutjipto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the vote.

Golkar and the PDI-P, which are grouped under the Nationhood Coalition, said earlier they would nominate Sutjipto and Golkar's Theo L. Sambuaga for the positions of Assembly speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

The coalition is likely to offer nominations for two other deputy Assembly speaker posts to Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members to gain more support.

Because Golkar needs to garner votes from other parties to win the Assembly speaker's post, members are considering Khofifah Indar Parawansa of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in place of Theo.

"Golkar will possibly drop its candidate in an attempt to lure support from the PKB and give Sutjipto a better chance. Our plan will be discussed further by the coalition," Golkar executive Akil Mochtar said after a meeting to deliberate the revision of Assembly standing orders on Monday.

The Nationhood Coalition effectively controled the election for the House of Representatives speaker and deputy speakers on Friday.

With the backing of Golkar, the PDI-P, the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party (PBR), and the PKB, Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono was elected House Speaker and PDI- P's Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and PKB's Muhaimin Iskandar the deputy speakers. Agung collected 280 votes to beat Endin Sofihara of the United Development Party (PPP), one of the four Nationhood Coalition signatories, who garnered 257 votes.

The coalition was formed in August to support Megawati Soekarnoputri in the final round of the presidential election.

Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung later said the PPP had been kicked out of the coalition because of its "mutiny" -- its decision to nominate Endin.

PKB executive Erman Suparno said on Monday both the Nationhood Coalition members and their rivals had sought support from his party.

"The Nationhood Coalition will nominate Khofifah while the opposing camp will nominate Yusuf Muhammad. However, we want to nominate only one person," Erman said on Monday.

Separately, PPP chairman Hamzah Haz denied reports his party had broken away from the coalition. He said the PPP faction at the House had insisted from the outset on the nomination of a PDI-P legislator for the speaker's post.

"For the sake of consistency, we opted to go our own way. We know the consequences of our decision," said Hamzah, who is the outgoing vice president.

He said the party was waiting for an official response from other coalition members.

At the Assembly session, an ad hoc committee meeting failed on Monday to reach a consensus on the composition of the Assembly leaders, leaving two alternatives to be voted upon.

Citing equality reasons, the 128-member Regional Representatives Council (DPD) insisted the standing orders must clearly stipulate that the House and the Council are allocated two seats each in the Assembly leadership.

The DPD is supported by, among others, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

The PPP-less Nationhood Coalition rejected the proposal, saying it would reduce the rights of legislators.

The contentious issue has prompted the lawmakers to extend their plenary meeting to Tuesday.

Assembly deputy secretary general Eddie Siregar, however, said the extension would not affect the budget.

"We have allocated budget until Oct. 6. Should the plenary session last until after that day, we will discuss it," Eddie said.

According to Eddie, the secretariat had allocated Rp 33.51 billion for the session, including Rp 8.38 billion for Assembly members' accommodation.

The first plenary session on Oct. 1 was funded by the General Elections Commission.