Golkar may support Habibie for 1999-2004 presidency

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Tuesday his party may nominate B.J. Habibie as its presidential candidate because it was giving priority to politicians who were current or former Cabinet members.

"Of course we are training our sight on those politicians who are already in the Cabinet, even though we realize that Golkar members are everywhere," Akbar said at Merdeka Palace after attending a function with President B.J. Habibie.

"The question (of the presidency) has yet to be discussed officially, but we have started talking about it, especially what criteria we should use for selecting candidates," Akbar said.

"Of course Pak Habibie is included," he said, after explaining that Golkar would nominate someone who was able to understand the people, meet future challenges and who had experience in the Cabinet.

"(The person) must of course be able to understand economics, not only at the macro level but also microeconomics," he said.

It is not clear whether Habibie intends to run for the presidency, but a Golkar nomination would be a significant development.

Akbar also said that Golkar would contest the June 7 general election according to established election laws.

"We will fight and will do everything in accordance with the law to win the elections. But we will be realistic if we lose and will accept the other party's victory as gentlemen," he said.

He reiterated his party was committed to fair and free elections and would support the presence of local and international election monitoring agencies.

Meanwhile, 17 of the 49 political parties which recently registered with the Ministry of Justice have met administrative requirements and will be officially listed as corporate bodies and announced to the public, Antara reported on Tuesday.

Rasi Manoppo, an official at the ministry's registration committee, said the 17 political parties included the Indonesian National Party led by Mrs. Supeni, Partai Keadilan dan Persatuan (the Justice and Unity Party), Partai Murba (the Murba Party), Partai Muslimin Indonesia (the Indonesian Muslim Community Party), Partai Republik (the Republic Party), Partai Demokrasi Kasih Bangsa (the National Love Democratic Party), PDI Perjuangan (the Indonesian Democratic Party Strife), Partai Amanat National (the National Mandate Party), Partai Syarikat Islam Indonesia (the Indonesian Muslim Congregation Party) and Partai Kesatuan Bangsa (the National Awakening Party).

The remaining parties which registered at the ministry have not met administrative requirements because of problems concerning their party names and logos. There were four parties, for example, which registered their name as the Partai Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Party).

Andi M. Mallarangeng, a member of the Team of Eleven appointed to select parties eligible to contest the general election, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that around 20 political parties have been to the team's office at the National Election Institute in Central Jakarta. None of the parties, however, have been declared eligible to contest the poll.

"They only came here to seek information on administrative requirements and for registration forms," he said.

Meanwhile, President B.J. Habibie urged political parties not to make the people their election "guinea pigs".

The people should be free to choose the political party which they believe will be able to channel their aspirations, he said when receiving the executive boards of Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing and security unit in the Bina Graha presidential office on Tuesday.

Separately, Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fadjar called on political parties, especially those based on religion, not to use places of worship or religious sermons as arenas for political campaigns.

"For the sake of national unity, political parties should not use mosques, churches or temples to exploit religious teachings for their own political interests," he said during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission VII for education, religion, sport and youth affairs on Tuesday.

He said that political parties should avoid exploiting religious teachings because the people were easily incited to conflict. (rms/edt/prb)