Golkar may support Habibie for 1999-2004 presidency

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)