Marwah threatens to quit Golkar

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Akbar that she was no longer active in the party.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)