Marzuki retains position in Golkar

Marzuki retains position in Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): A Golkar Party executive board meeting discussed
proposals to dismiss party deputy Marzuki Darusman following
controversial statements he made, but decided he was harmless to
the party.

"We have no grounds to dismiss Marzuki," Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung said on Tuesday at the party headquarters in West
Jakarta.

"All of his statements are still within normal limits and will
not jeopardize Golkar's political interests," Akbar said. He
would not say when the meeting took place, but Marzuki said the
meeting was on Sunday.

"(Marzuki's statements) even prove to the outside world that
democratization is happening within Golkar," he said.

Marzuki has repeatedly opposed the party's decision to support
the presidential reelection of incumbent B.J. Habibie.

Marzuki said recently that calls within the party were growing
to have Golkar reconsider its support for Habibie's reelection
because the party's performance in the June 7 polls fell below
target.

At the last national meeting Akbar said all 27 provinces had
agreed to support Habibie, but Marzuki expressed doubts on
whether the decision was unanimous.

"Marzuki assumed that Golkar's failure to secure 40 percent of
the overall vote was connected to Golkar's announcement before
the June 7 elections that it would name incumbent president B.J.
Habibie as its presidential candidate," Akbar said.

"And based on his analysis, Marzuki suggested that Golkar
review its decision," Akbar said. His statement was only an
analysis, Akbar said, adding that he had no doubt regarding
Marzuki's loyalty to the party.

"Marzuki has been active in Golkar since the early 1970s even
before I joined the party," Akbar said.

Akbar reiterated that Golkar's executive board would not
change its decision on naming Habibie its sole presidential
candidate.

"The decision was made in Golkar's leadership meeting last
October."

Marzuki suggested prior to the campaign period that Golkar
consider other names, particularly since Habibie had been accused
of deliberate foot-dragging in initiating an investigation into
allegations of corruption leveled at former president Soeharto.

"I told Marzuki that despite Golkar's failure to meet the
target, President Habibie still has a great opportunity to be
reelected in the presidential election," he said.

Separately, Marzuki told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday there had
been a party meeting on July 11 to discuss his recent statement
that incumbent President B.J. Habibie's candidacy should be
reconsidered.

Reports said Tuesday that a number of Golkar officials had
called for the expulsion of Marzuki from the party as he had
openly opposed backing Habibie for a new term.

Marzuki said earlier that Habibie's candidacy was a further
blow to the party, as the latter was considered to have strong
links with former president Soeharto.

He said on Tuesday that he was not "overly apprehensive" about
the criticism "because it is only a matter of coming up with an
alternative view".

"What I am presenting is an open analysis that (Golkar) was
only able to get 20 percent of the vote rather than the 40
percent that was our original projection... so the question is
do we still have the strength to mobilize support (for
Habibie)... it is not questioning the leadership meeting's
decision... it is only asking a question," Marzuki said.

"The fact that they (Golkar executives) are reacting to an
analysis would show the state of apprehension that the Habibie
group is now in... with regard to the uncertainty of Mr.
Habibie's reelection."

Marzuki said some people within the party might have been a
bit annoyed by his statement.

"But I think that at one point they will understand what the
message is," he added.(byg/imn)