Maulana elected KNPI chair

JAKARTA (JP): Maulana Isman of Kosgoro, an organization affiliated to Golkar, was finally elected new chairman of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) last night.

Maulana, younger brother of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, won 28 out of 67 votes. Former stronger contenders Taufiq Hidayat of the Islamic Students Association and Djoko Purwongemboro of Panca Marga Youth Organization, respectively won 25 and 12 votes. Kaharuddin Syah from Pemuda Pancasila organization gained two votes.

Taufiq had earlier been said to have the blessing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono while Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung had last week indicated he preferred to have someone from either Panca Marga or the Communication Forum of Ex-Servicemen's Children at the organization's helm. Feisal had argued that the two youth organizations he mentioned were close to ABRI.

The four names had been chosen from seven candidates in a preliminary election that started much later than scheduled. The three who failed to make it to the final round were Adhyaksa of KNPI's Jakarta chapter, Ramly H.M. Yusuf of the outgoing executive board, Gatot Sudjito of KNPI's East Java chapter.

The election was decided by 68 votes: 27 of them belong to the representatives of the 27 provincial chapter of KNPI, 39 belong to representatives of the youth groups that make up KNPI, one vote is from the Indonesian Council of Youths -- the KNPI's honorary council, and the last belongs to the outgoing executive board. (imn/swe)