'Golkar should lose Akbar or face more distrust'
'Golkar should lose Akbar or face more distrust'
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Golkar risks losing what little credibility it has left and
the next general elections with it if it insists on keeping
convicted fraudster Akbar Tandjung as its chairman, political
analysts say.
Already tainted by being the defender of former president
Soeharto's 32 years of corrupt, authoritarian rule, Golkar's
image is being further pounded with Akbar's insistence to stay
put.
The party should have the courage to regain credibility by
removing its convicted chairman, political analyst Cecep Effendi
said here on Friday.
"The party is taking a big risk if it insists on retaining
Akbar," Jakarta-based 1945 Islamic University (Unisma) rector
Cecep said during a discussion attended by Golkar legislators
Marwah Daud Ibrahim and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan in the House of
Representatives (DPR).
Fellow scholar Irfan Manulang from the University of Indonesia
(UI) said Akbar's unwillingness to relinquish his post and the
support of his party showed it did take account of its
constituents' views.
Golkar executive leader Marwah Daud Ibrahim has openly urged
Akbar to resign, saying the move would benefit Golkar and Akbar
himself.
He said Akbar should quit his post as Speaker of the House of
Representatives and resign as Golkar's chairman.
"This move will help Akbar regain credibility," said Marwah,
who represents Iramasuka, a dissenting faction within Golkar,
mainly comprised of legislators from eastern parts of Indonesia.
Marwah made similar calls at a limited Golkar leadership
meeting on Wednesday. Akbar's loyalists condemned the call.
Marwah was not alone, but was supported by Golkar executives
Theo L. Sambuaga and Fahmi Idris, two figures who held
ministerial posts during former president B.J. Habibie's tenure.
Akbar ally Rambe Kamarulzaman said the dissenting trio were
condemned by the seven other Golkar leaders at the meeting.
The seven were M.S. Hidayat, Freddy Latumahina, Mahadi
Sinambela, Bomer Pasaribu, Aulia Rachman, Budi Harsono, and Rambe
himself.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers, Akbar said that
the calls from Golkar cadres for his resignation were just their
opinions.
"Opinions are common. Finally, the meeting agreed to stick to
internal rules and the party's leadership remains in my hands,"
Akbar said.
Ferry, one of Akbar's supporters, meanwhile said Golkar's
problem did not just lay with Akbar himself.
He said Golkar had been the target of people's anger during
the 1999 campaign and would remain a target of criticism.
"If Akbar resigns, the criticism of Golkar will not end
immediately. Besides, Pak Akbar is a figure of unity in Golkar,"
Ferry said.
He defended Akbar's position, saying that people's hatred of
Golkar would be measured during the 2004 elections, not by
dismissing Akbar.