Golkar figures embark on presidential campaigns
A'an Suryana and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A number of public figures are now busy soliciting support from Golkar members and sympathizers nationwide, since they have been declared eligible to contest the party's convention to select its presidential candidate.
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, media tycoon Surya Paloh, former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto and other candidates have been actively touring the archipelago to meet prominent Golkar and local community figures in order to win their support before they contest the convention.
Other names passing administrative screening to contest the convention include former vice president Sudharmono, Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, businessman Aburizal Bakrie, Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, his predecessor Haryono Suyono, People's Consultative Assembly deputy chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.
Of these candidates, Akbar and Ginandjar are battling disadvantage as a result of their status, respectively, as graft convict and graft suspect.
All 12 candidates have been nominated by national mass organizations.
Other possible aspirants, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and House of Representatives legislator Marwah Daud Ibrahim have not qualified as they are nominated by local organizations.
Surya Paloh, owner of Metro TV and the Media Indonesia group has visited several parts of Sumatra; Prabowo recently visited the Central Java capital, Semarang, while Akbar spends most of his time outside Jakarta these days.
According to a close aide of Surya Paloh, the media baron has pledged to step up his campaign and, to help him, he has even planned to buy a private airplane.
Meanwhile, Agum Gumelar is slated to attend a function in Semarang on July 27, held by the Young Generation of the Golkar Party (AMPG).
Speaking before participants at a function held at the National Library in Jakarta on Monday, Agum pledged to promote equality before the law, a liberal economy and national unity during his campaign.
"Equality before the law is important, because it can protect poor people from abuse," he asserted.
The convention will run over stages before naming the party's sole presidential candidate in February next year. The landmark direct presidential election is expected to take place in June 2004.
Support from the regions will be crucial, as most votes during the national convention will come from party chapters and branches.
Imam Muhardio, a member of Golkar's convention committee, said the committee had sent letters to seven of the candidates, requiring them to register with the committee. Letters for the other seven qualifiers will follow suit.