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.