Golkar internal pressure increases against Akbar

Golkar internal pressure increases against Akbar

Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Senior Golkar leaders opposed to Akbar Tandjung's leadership,
both in the party and at the House of Representatives, have
predicted that the convicted corrupter will eventually bow to
public pressure and quit the two top posts.

Golkar co-chairwoman Marwah Daud Ibrahim, one of Akbar's
staunchest critics within the party, said on Monday the move to
unseat Akbar was snowballing.

"Support from within and outside Golkar for the demand that
Akbar resign has been increasing very fast. We are optimistic
that Bang Akbar will heed (the demand)," she told The Jakarta
Post.

In addition to this, Akbar has pledged that at "the right
time" he will make the "proper decision" for the party, following
his corruption conviction earlier this month, she added.

Marwah, from the Iramasuka camp, which stands for Irian Jaya
(Papua), Maluku, Sulawesi and Kalimantan, was the first Golkar
executive bluntly to tell Akbar to resign after he was convicted
of misusing Rp 40 billion (US$4.4 million) in funds from the
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) earlier this month.

Another Golkar co-chairman, Agung Laksono, made a public call
on Saturday for Akbar to resign.

Other high-ranking executives in the party, including Theo L.
Sambuaga, Fahmi Idris, Marzuki Darusman and Aulia Rachman,
reportedly voiced opposition to Akbar's leadership during a
closed-door meeting on Wednesday night.

Marwah said she believed more Golkar leaders would come out
against Akbar as public pressure against him increased.

She said she had received phone calls from executives at
numerous Golkar branches in the provinces and regencies,
demanding that Akbar be suspended as House speaker and party
chairman in order to save the party.

Leaders of all Golkar's provincial chapters, along with the
party's central board, earlier held a series of meetings to
maintain Akbar as the party's chairman, but Marwah said the
leaders could change their minds.

"According to the proper procedures of the party, Golkar's
provincial leaders have to consult with the regency branches
before making any strategic decisions. Otherwise, it is only a
personal desire," she said.

Marwah said if Akbar insisted on retaining his posts, nobody
would benefit, including Akbar.

"We sincerely want to save Golkar and Pak Akbar's future
political career. Rather than become a target of hatred among
legislators, he would be better off resigning. This would help
restore his credibility and integrity," she said.

Akbar was sentenced by the Central Jakarta District Court on
Sept. 4 to three years in jail for misappropriating Rp 40 billion
in Bulog funds. He remains free pending a hearing of his appeal
of the conviction.

Marwah told Akbar to respect the decision of the court by
temporarily relinquishing his seat in the House, while asking the
nation to allow him to resume his state duties should he be
acquitted of all charges by a higher court.

"That would be fair," she said.

She flatly denied claims by Akbar's allies that Golkar lacked
leaders capable of replacing Akbar, and that the party would
crack should he resign the chairmanship.

"I simply don't believe all of these things. I can give you
the names of a hundred people that could be nominated as the new
leader of Golkar. That is just a political statement," she said.