Golkar unveils team lineup for MPR general session

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita assisted by, among others, President Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, will head the dominant Golkar faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) general session in March.

The lineup, officially announced by Golkar chairman Harmoko yesterday, put four cabinet ministers on the faction's executive board and another 11 on the advisory board.

Golkar will field 488 out of a total 1,000 MPR representatives at the general session which is tasked with electing a president and vice president, along with endorsing the State Policy Guidelines.

As head of the faction at MPR, Ginandjar will have six deputies -- Minister of Information R. Hartono, State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tanjung, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, Golkar deputies Agung Laksono and Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, along with Golkar executive, Sofjan Lubis.

Golkar secretary-general Ary Mardjono was appointed the faction's secretary at MPR.

Members of the faction's executive board at MPR include President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, deputy chairman of the National Development Planning Board Rahardi Ramelan and Kafrawi Ridwan.

Harmoko, also State Minister of Special Assignments, chairs the 17-strong advisory board. Included as members of the advisory board are ministers Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, B.J. Habibie, Soesilo Soedarman, Azwar Anas, Saleh Afiff, Moerdiono, Mar'ie Muhammad, Haryono Suyono, Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno and Tunky Ariwibowo.

Those on Golkar's working committee at MPR include Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiyakto Tjakrawedaya, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, Director General for Taxes Fuad Bawazier, businessman Tanri Abeng and deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute Juwono Sudarsono.

Control

Political observer Arbi Sanit said the bureaucrat-dominated lineup confirmed the government's bid to maintain its control over legislative bodies.

"The top government officials will undoubtedly exercise their power to influence, or at least guide, the session to run on their desired track," Arbi said.

He said the choice of Ginandjar for the faction leadership was aimed at accommodating various interests in Golkar's bigger family which also includes the Armed Forces.

"He (Ginandjar) is a mature and experienced figure acceptable to every faction of Golkar," Arbi said. Ginandjar is a retired vice marshal.

Outgoing Golkar legislator Krissantono said the cabinet ministers would serve as key sources for the Assembly to draw up the State Policy Guidelines and decide the country's future leaders.

"They have been chosen because they are actors who implement the state policies. Now that the State Policy Guidelines will be reviewed, their experience is worth taking into account," Krissantono said.

However, he said deliberation of the State Policy Guidelines should accommodate more interests of people at the grassroots level.

"There should be more representatives of actual dominant social groups, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah," he said.

He said fresh riots in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, proved that some state policies failed to give room to public interests.

Golkar also announced the lineup of the faction's new leadership in the House of Representatives. Theo Sambuaga will chair the 325-strong faction replacing Moestahid Astari.

The younger-looking lineup excludes, for the first time since 1968, Armed Forces retirees.

Krissantono said the military's regular presence would now be represented by children of Armed Forces retirees. Included as deputies in the Golkar leadership at the House are Erie Sukardja and Danny Sudarsono. Both are members of the Communication Forum for the Offspring of Retired Armed Forces Members (FKPPI). (amd)

Nominations -- Page 2