Golkar unveils team lineup for MPR general session

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