Golkar leader admits delay planned to secure Akbar's bid

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.