Golkar figures embark on presidential campaigns

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.