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)