Golkar faction gets new leader

JAKARTA: The executive board of the Golkar Party has finally decided upon M. Hatta to replace Marzuki Achmad as chairman of the party's faction at the House of Representatives.

Hatta was selected after a majority of Golkar executive members nominated him at a closed door meeting late on Sunday.

Hatta defeated three rivals M.S. Hidayat, Fredy Latumahina and Aulia Rachman, winning 44 of 82 votes.

Two other candidates, Andi Mattalata and Rully Chairul Azwar, had withdrawn their bids to focus on the Golkar convention.

Hatta said on Monday he would soon announce the complete lineup of the faction's executive members.

It was reported that Yahya Zaini, a member of the House Commission for law and home affairs, had been chosen as secretary. -- JP