Jusuf Kalla out to purge Akbar's loyalists
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.