Minister's decision upsets Golkar boss Akbar Tandjung

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono was in disagreement with Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung on Saturday when he reiterated his decision not to campaign for Golkar in this year's general election.

On the same day, Akbar said as one of Golkar's deputy chairmen Adi was obliged to campaign for the political group.

Adi, one of Akbar's 13 deputies, hinted that his refusal to campaign was because he wanted to separate politics from his main responsibility as a minister in charge of raising people's welfare.

He denied reports that a plan to establish his own political party was behind his decision.

"I have made a report (on my refusal to campaign) to the President and other government officials, such as the Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry, and they gave me their support," Adi said after accompanying President B.J. Habibie and the First Lady to the opening of a three-day, low-price market at National Monument Park.

"I do not have any plans (to establish a new party)," Adi added.

Adi has been in the spotlight recently, with critics charging that he is boosting his power in the Cabinet by favoring certain indigenous business groups in the guise of affirmative action for small-scale and medium-scale entrepreneurs.

Separately, Akbar pointed out that Adi should abide by Golkar's rule that all 138 members of its central executive board and parliamentary candidates were required to campaign for the political organization.

According to Antara, Akbar dismissed Adi's reasoning that he could not simultaneously act as a minister and as a Golkar executive, saying the two roles were completely different and would not affect one another.

"He must carry out his duties for Golkar," said Akbar, who is also minister/state secretary.

Akbar promised to meet with Adi as soon as possible to seek clarification of his statement. He also denied that Golkar was facing an internal dispute, saying any appearance of a rift was manufactured by opponents of the dominant political grouping.

Golkar is facing mounting pressures not to hire government officials or ministers for campaigning purposes; a practice which became tradition under the regime of former president Soeharto.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a spokeswoman for Habibie, strongly indicated her opposition to Akbar's stance last week, saying he should choose between his positions as Golkar's chairman and Cabinet minister.

According to Dewi, Habibie himself set a good example by abandoning all his duties in Golkar as soon as he assumed the presidency in May.

Meanwhile M.M. Billah of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee, also supported Adi's refusal to campaign.

"It is manipulation and illegal (to have state officials campaign) because the ministers use state funds to finance their campaigning activities. These old practices are no longer tolerable," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Billah pointed out that ministers or senior government officials often used state facilities while campaigning for Golkar.

"This is a kind of unlawful subsidy for the party," Billah noted.

The committee, first set up to monitor the 1997 elections, has said it will watch closely any abuses of power during the campaign period. (prb)