More candidates enter the fray in KNPI contest

More candidates enter the fray in KNPI contest

JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing congress of the Indonesian National
Youth Committee (KNPI) entered its fourth day yesterday as the
race for its chairmanship intensified.

Two new names emerged yesterday as "dark horses" in the race,
adding yesterday's field of eight.

Maulana Isman, younger brother of State Minister of Youth
Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, was one of the new contestants
and he seems to have the support of many at the 2,000 member
congress.

The other new name in the competition for the top post of the
politically well-connected organization is Taufiq Hidayat of the
influential Islamic Students Association. Taufiq reportedly had
the "blessing" of Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono.

"I'm ready to compete. Today I formally applied to contest in
the election," Maulana told reporters, adding he had the personal
support of his minister brother.

Promoting his candidature to Jakarta-based political
journalists, Maulana said that, should he be elected, he would do
his best to bring "a breath of fresh air" in the youth committee.

The other eight candidates are Joko Purwongemboro of the Panca
Marga Youth Organization, Syaiful Anwar of Indonesian Islamic
Youths, Kaharuddin Syah of the Pemuda Pancasila Youth
Organization, Mujib Rachmat of the Ansor Islamic Youth Movement.
Adhyaksa of KNPI's Jakarta chapter, Ramli H.M. Yusuf of the
committee's outgoing central board, Budianto of the Central Java
chapter and Gatot Sudjito of the East Java chapter.

The organization, which functions as an umbrella group for 39
youth groups, has recently been the target of harsh criticism
from its own members, government officials and political analysts
for its obvious leanings toward the dominant Golkar.

Taufiq was among those who looked well-prepared for the
election. He had not yet formally registered in the race, but had
already named Iqbal Assegaf, chairman of the Ansor Islamic Youth
Movement, as his campaign manager.

However, Taufiq was not the only candidate to receive the
support of a prominent figure. Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen.
Feisal Tanjung had indicated on Wednesday where his support lay.

Although reluctant to mention names, Feisal had said he would
prefer candidates from the two groups with close links to ABRI,
the Communication Forum of Indonesian Ex-Servicemen's Children
(FKPPI) and the Panca Marga Youth Organization.

"There are candidates from two organizations of the great ABRI
," Feisal said.

The incumbent KNPI chairman Tubagus Haryono is an FKPPI cadre
but has declared his unwillingness to be renominated in the
election. His group has yet to name its candidates.

The important government and military officials who stated
their preferences have done so in spite of President Soeharto's
call on Wednesday for the congress to hold a fair election, free
from any government intervention.

"Let the floor choose the new KNPI chairman," the President
said.

The fourth day of the congress was notable for the absence of
cabinet ministers originally scheduled to address the congress.

The ministers who failed to deliver speeches included Foreign
Affairs Minister Ali Alatas and Minister of Defense and Security
Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat. (imn)