Golkar welcomes Akbar's opponent

Golkar welcomes Akbar's opponent

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Dismissed Golkar politician Marzuki Darusman is heading back to
the House of Representatives after the party's new central
executive board annulled a previous decision to fire him.

"The punishment has been annulled. The problem has been
settled. We will build reconciliation," Golkar deputy leader
Agung Laksono told the press on Tuesday after witnessing the
inauguration of three legislators who will fill seats left vacant
by lawmakers who have been appointed Cabinet ministers.

Golkar under former chairman Akbar Tandjung dismissed Marzuki,
Fahmi Idris, Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Juniwati Maschun Sofwan, Abu
Hasan Sazili, Abu Hanifah, Yoeslin Nasution, Anton Lesiangi, and
Firman Soebagyo for challenging the party's nomination of
Megawati Soekarnoputri in the presidential election runoff.

They formed the Golkar Reform Forum (FPPG) that proclaimed
support for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running mate Jusuf Kalla
in the presidential election.

Megawati lost to Susilo, who later named Fahmi the manpower
minister.

Akbar lost to Vice President Jusuf Kalla in the election for
the party's leadership at its congress earlier this month.

Although dismissing accusations that Golkar under Kalla is
purging the party's House faction of Akbar supporters, Agung said
the party would replace the faction leader Mohammad Hatta, who is
known as Akbar loyalist.

Marzuki and Fahmi were reelected as House members in the April
polls, but the General Elections Commission said they could not
be inaugurated pending settlement of the dispute between Golkar
and the two politicians.

"The swearing in ceremony for Pak Marzuki is just a matter of
time. We have revoked the dismissal and restored his political
rights," Agung said.

During the Golkar congress, participants accepted Akbar's
accountability speech and gave him a standing ovation. For Akbar
supporters, the reception also meant acceptance of the dismissal
of the nine party members.

Kalla put some of those dismissed politicians on the party's
executive board without annulling their dismissal.

M. Akil Mochtar, a Golkar legislator, questioned this
decision. He said that the dismissed politicians should have
their names rehabilitated before they can rejoin the party.

"A meeting of Golkar's executive board has no authority to
annul the decision. This is a big mistake. Such a decision must
be made by an extraordinary meeting of the party," he said.

He said controversial decisions by the party's new executives
would affect Golkar's internal consolidation.

The three legislators replaced on Tuesday were Fahmi, Malam
Sambat Kaban of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) who has been named
as forests minister, and Hatta Radjasa of the National Mandate
Party (PAN) who has been appointed as transport minister.

Fahmi is replaced by Watty Amir while Kaban and Hatta are
replaced by Anwar Shaleh and Cecep Rukmana respectively.