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)