Harmoko stakes claim to House speaker post

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko staked his claim yesterday for the position of House speaker, asserting that "political logic" dictated that the winner of the general election should be elected as leader of the legislative body.

"As an Indonesian citizen I am ready to carry out any assignment for the interest of the nation," Harmoko said after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

"It's clear, according to political logic, that the political organization that wins the general election is expected to hold the leadership position (of the House of Representatives)," Harmoko said.

Harmoko led Golkar to victory in the May general election when the political faction received 74 percent of the vote. The ruling organization then won 325 of 425 contested seats, the United Development Party 89 seats, and the tiny Indonesian Democratic Party 11 seats. The Armed Forces, whose members do not vote, was allotted 75 seats.

Harmoko was minister of information for 14 years before being replaced by R. Hartono in June. He was then appointed as state minister of special assignments, a post he will hold until the end of this month before entering the House on Oct. 1.

Following his removal from the Ministry of Information, speculation grew that Harmoko had fallen out of President Soeharto's favor and would not become House speaker. Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, instead, was rumored to have a better chance at the position.

Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, however, was quick to endorse Harmoko and reiterated that Syarwan was to be assigned as deputy House speaker. Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono also said Harmoko deserved the job.

When asked for comment on being endorsed, Harmoko said: "Newspapers report such things, I also get my information from newspapers."

According to state protocol, the House speaker is the third most senior official after the president and vice president.

Syarwan said he would accept Harmoko as House speaker if he was chosen next month.

The 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will meet in March next year to elect a president and vice president and draw up the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

MPR is made up of the 500 House of Representatives members, while the 500 other members are representatives of various community groups.

Harmoko refused to comment on a statement by a Golkar legislator that he was not the right candidate for the House speaker post.

"No, I won't comment on such a statement," Harmoko said.

Manginsara Marcos Lubis recently said that Harmoko was not suitable for the position because his inability to communicate "harmoniously" with Soeharto caused the return of the broadcasting bill to the House for further revision.

Harmoko said he never discussed the issue with Soeharto.

"As a democrat, the President will leave it to the House to deal with," he said. (prb)