Golkar officials fear money politics
Golkar officials fear money politics
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Golkar Party officials supervising the party's convention have
expressed concern about possible money politics during unreported
meetings of leaders of the party's regency chapters with
presidential candidates.
Regency chapters, which will be represented by their leaders,
will have a combined 440 votes in the convention to elect the
party's sole presidential candidate, scheduled for April 20.
Bomer Pasaribu, secretary of the supervisory body, called on
all six presidential candidates to follow the rules of the
convention.
"The convention committee should be informed of such meetings
beforehand in order to prevent the possibility of money
politics," he told a press briefing at Golkar's headquarters here
on Monday.
Money politics, he said, would only tarnish the convention,
which he said was intended to boost democracy. Golkar vowed to
eradicate corruption during the election campaign period which
concluded on April 1.
Other Golkar officials, Sulasikin Murpratomo and Marzuki
Darusman, said they hoped money could not buy the leaders of the
party's regional chapters and they would vote for the best
candidate.
The party officials were obviously referring to former
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and media
mogul Surya Paloh. Both Wiranto and Surya Paloh have no position
in the party's structure.
Bomer also reminded all the six participants of the convention
to remain loyal to Golkar in the presidential election.
His statement gives a clear message to Golkar presidential
candidates to reject any offers from other parties intending to
forge a coalition with them for the July 5 presidential election.
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, businessman Aburizal Bakrie and
former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen.
(ret) Prabowo Subianto are the party's presidential candidates to
contest the convention.
Members of the campaign teams for Wiranto and Surya Paloh
acknowledged the two presidential candidates had organized
separate meetings with leaders of Golkar's regency chapters.
They, however, dismissed allegations that money politics was
involved in the meetings.
Sugeng Suparwoto, a member of Surya's campaign team, said the
meeting between his boss and Golkar figures was only aimed at
evaluating the party's performance in the April 5 general
election.
"There was no money involved. If Surya Paloh gave a special
message to them during the meeting, I think it is standard
practice," Sugeng told The Jakarta Post.
Separately, Danny P. Thaharsyah from Wiranto's camp also
denied accusations that the meeting would open the possibility of
money changing hands in the convention.
He said leaders of Golkar's regency chapters had shown their
eagerness to vote the best candidate.
"I don't think they are driven by money politics," he told the
Post.
He acknowledged Wiranto held a meeting with a number of
regency chapter leaders in Jakarta recently. But, he did not
disclose the number or the identity of the leaders.
Danny instead accused Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung of
abusing his power by holding a series of closed-door meetings
with Regional Representatives Council leaders recently.
He demanded that Akbar declare himself non-active in his
capacity as party chairman before contesting the convention.
"The problem lies in the dual positions played by Akbar
Tandjung," Danny added.
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Composition of votes in the Convention
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- Golkar central board: 18 votes (for single candidate)
- 32 provincial chapters: each chapter has 3 votes (for single
candidate)
- 440 regency chapters: one chapter one vote
- Golkar youths group (AMPG): one vote
- Golkar women group (KPPG): one vote
- SOKSI: one vote
- KOSGORO 1957: one vote
- MKGR: one vote
- AMPI: one vote
- HWK: one vote
- MDI: one vote
- Al Hidayah: one vote
- Satkar Ulama: one vote
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total: 558 votes