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.

----------------------------------------------------------- Composition of votes in the Convention ------------------------------------------------------------ - 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