Golkar leader admits delay planned to secure Akbar's bid

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Golkar's convention deputy secretary Rully Chairul Azwar admitted on Monday that the decision to delay the selection of Golkar's sole candidate from February to April was taken to secure the chances of party chairman Akbar Tandjung.

Rully said Golkar cadres would think twice before voting for Akbar if the convention were held in February, especially if the Supreme Court had not handed down a verdict on his legal case by then.

Golkar, the country's second biggest party, decided on Sunday to delay selecting five presidential candidates until after the legislative election scheduled to be held on April 5, 2004.

"Our decision to delay the convention is part of our anticipation of that condition," he said, referring to the possibility of Akbar's guilty verdict.

Akbar, who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), was sentenced to three years in jail by the Central Jakarta District Court for his role in a financial scandal worth Rp 40 billion involving the State Logistics Agency. He remains free pending his appeal to the Supreme Court.

Rully said that the party had been "held hostage" by the uncertain legal status of Akbar.

According to Rully, all seven presidential candidates attending the convention had accepted the decision.

Although Surya Paloh was a little bit upset, Rully claimed he could understand the decision. As for former military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, Rully said, he was only worried about underhandedness during the convention.

Surya Paloh and Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono were not present on Monday when Golkar's convention committee explained the changes that had resulted from the leadership meeting.

Hamengku Buwono, who was in Yogyakarta sent an aide to represent him at the meeting, but Surya Paloh did not.

"I had expected that the convention (process) would be finished in February 2004. The most important thing is that the delay must not benefit a certain candidate," Hamengku Buwono was quoted by Antara news agency as saying on the sidelines of a plenary meeting of Yogyakarta's Provincial Legislature in Yogyakarta on Monday.

He did elaborate on his statement.

Rully said that the decision was also made to help the members of Golkar concentrate on how to win the legislative elections.

He added all seven candidates would be given campaign duties leading up to the legislative elections slated for April 5.

Golkar will allow all seven candidates to present their vision and aims before the leaders of Golkar's executive board, provincial and regental chapters on Tuesday.

The presentations of the seven candidates will be divided into three sessions. Three candidates will be heard in the first session, while two candidates in the second and third sessions.

A number of political experts, including Salim Said, Din Syamsuddin, Fachry Ali, Umar Juoro, and Dewi Fortuna Anwar, will appear to chair the sessions.