Jusuf Kalla out to purge Akbar's loyalists

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

Newly elected Golkar party leader Jusuf Kalla announced on Sunday the lineup of the central executive board, consisting of big names who had supported him in gaining the party's top post.

Two figures who played an influential role in beating the outgoing leader Akbar Tandjung, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono and media magnate Surya Paloh were given prominent positions in the central board respectively as deputy head and head of the advisory board.

The advisory board -- the authority of which has been extended following the amendment of the party's standing orders -- also comprises Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and former special forces chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo made a last-minute decision on Saturday to join Kalla's camp after learning that he would work together with his archrival Gen. (ret) Wiranto should he join Akbar's camp.

The inclusion of Fahmi also indicated that Kalla had decided to embark on a purge against Golkar politicians loyal to Akbar. Fahmi was dismissed from his seat on the party's executive board early in October, after he defied an order to support the reelection bid of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri -- who was nominated by the Nationhood Coalition -- and instead threw his weight behind the candidacy of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Among new central board members who had taken a stand against Akbar are former information and communications minister Syamsul Mu'arif and legislators Priyo Budi Santoso and Yasril Ananta Baharuddin.

Another Akbar opponent in Golkar, former justice and human rights minister Muladi was named head of the party's legal department in the new lineup. Muladi surrendered his party membership late last year.

The party's secretary-general is now former chief of Diponegoro military command Lt. Gen. (ret) Soemarsono, a less well-known figure among Golkar members.

Businessman and an aide to Agung, Edward Suryajaya was named deputy treasurer in the central board lineup.

The lineup was announced less than 12 hours after Kalla was elected leader early Sunday, after he won overwhelming support from the party's provincial and regental chapters.

Akbar remarked that the appointment of Fahmi had been contrary to party regulations. "The congress had approved my decision to dismiss Pak Fahmi from the party. But now he has been installed as a member of the advisory board. It is just not right, his name should have been cleared first," he said.