Golkar still upbeat on chances

JAKARTA (JP): A former Golkar patron joined on Wednesday the chorus of demands for the ruling party to leave the political stage, saying the act would be a political and moral lesson for the nation.

But in its latest statement, Golkar, far from showing fear at the mounting backlash, remained upbeat about winning 40 percent of the vote in Monday's elections. Such a result would be more than enough to maintain its long-held grip, given the fact that 48 parties will contest the polls.

Siswono Yudohusodo, twice a Cabinet minister under Soeharto, said Golkar should give to reformist parties and spend time on the sideline to consider its past mistakes.

"If I'm asked who will win next week's polls, I wish that Golkar loses, not because I hate it but because it has led the nation into adversity," Siswono, who is now a patron of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP), said.

However, Siswono was against any effort to ban Golkar, saying that it instead could act as a good opposition to the new government while in temporary seclusion.

"If the government fails, Golkar, after smarting from its mistakes, could regain power," Siswono said as quoted by Antara.

Recent polls rated Golkar as an unlikely winner, placing it behind the likes of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Reuters quoted Golkar as saying in a statement that it expected to win 30 percent of the vote in populous Java and 55 percent in the rest of the country.

"Golkar is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people from all walks of life, and the people, especially in the rural areas, still believe strongly that through Golkar the intended changes could be achieved," Golkar's statement said. (amd)