Marwah threatens to quit Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party continues to foment with internal disagreement, with a defiant politician warning that dissatisfied members could form a breakaway party.

Marwah Daud Ibrahim, a backer of former president B.J. Habibie, charged the current Golkar leadership was indifferent to alternative views in the party.

She warned of a breakaway faction forming unless the chairmanship of Akbar Tandjung was more responsive.

"We will wait. We need a party which respects different opinions," said Marwah, who has been touted as proposing the establishment of the Madani Party.

Marwah, who is a Golkar deputy chairman, refuted comments by Akbar that she was no longer active in the party. Akbar said Marwah was dissatisfied with the outcome of the October General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which rejected Habibie leadership.

She claimed her absence from the party's functions in recent weeks was because she was visiting the regions to listen to people's aspirations.

"Pak Akbar's statement was unfair, discriminative and baseless," she said.

Marwah and several Golkar politicians earlier set up an eastern Indonesian politician caucus, which could form the basis of a new party.

The caucus -- known by the acronym Iramasuka denoting Irian Jaya, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Sulawesi and Kalimantan -- firmly supported Habibie, who was born in Sulawesi, in his bid for a second term in office.

The threat of a splinter within the party has met with indifference among other Golkar members.

Golkar legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said Marwah and her associates were free to leave the party if they wished.

"Their voices are as individuals. Our regional chapters still support us," Ferry, who is a former chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Student Association (HMI) and a close friend of Akbar, said on Monday.

Akbar indicated earlier that he was unfazed by the threat of some members leaving the party.

Former justice minister Muladi, a close aide of Habibie, also recently announced his resignation from Golkar.

While those perceived as pro-Habibie supporters are threatening to leave Golkar, former members who exited during Habibie's ascendance are indicating they will return.

Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat and Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, who left prior to the general election last year to establish the Unity and Justice Party (PKP), reportedly plan to rejoin Golkar.

Former public housing minister Siswono Yudohusodo and former Golkar secretary-general Rachmat Witoelar were also seen at a recent Golkar discussion, strengthening speculation of their return to the party's fold. (jun)