Golkar still undecided over presidency, vice presidency

Golkar still undecided over presidency, vice presidency

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar has not formally named B.J. Habibie and
Gen. Wiranto its candidates for president and vice president
respectively, a party official said on Monday.

Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said the process to
select the candidates for the country's number one and two posts
was still underway. He added that the selection results would be
announced in mid-October.

Marzuki was commenting on Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung who
said on Sunday that the party would nominate incumbent President
Habibie and Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military
(TNI) Commander Wiranto as candidates for president and vice
president respectively.

Akbar met with Habibie on Sunday, although Marzuki said such a
meeting had become a routine.

"What he (Akbar) talked about was his personal wish, not
Golkar's decision," Marzuki said after attending a seminar on
human rights.

"The decision to determine who will be Golkar's candidates
will be made in the upcoming executive meeting," he added.

Marzuki, regarded as a persistent critic of Habibie, refused
to give more comments on the matter, saying he would seek Akbar's
clarification.

Akbar was scheduled to attend a meeting among Golkar
executives for either late Monday or Tuesday.

A source told Kompas that Habibie pressed Akbar in Sunday's
meeting to consider stern measures against those in the party who
opposed his presidential bid, including Marzuki.

Another Golkar figure, Muladi, dismissed the report, labeling
it an unfounded rumor. "It was like a meeting between family
members," Muladi said.

Separately in Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal
predicted that Golkar would not replace Habibie due to its
conservative stance, regardless of Habibie's tarnished image
following the Bank Bali scandal and the result of a self-
determination referendum in East Timor which saw 78.5 percent of
the voters opt against autonomy within Indonesia.

"Golkar has always nominated the incumbent, and a decision to
drop Habibie would be met with a huge challenge. The party will
likely go ahead with Habibie's nomination, although if the one
man, one vote applies in the presidential election, there is a
possibility that some Golkar representatives will vote for other
candidates," Amal said.

He said Akbar's statement further disclosed a serious crack in
the party pitting Marzuki and his camp against those who were
supportive of Habibie. (emf/prb/44)