New PAN leader Soetrisno, Amien's heir apparent
New PAN leader Soetrisno, Amien's heir apparent
The Jakarta Post, Semarang
Soetrisno Bachir was a nobody in the country's political arena
until he seized the top post of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
on Sunday, succeeding Amien Rais who had declined another term.
Soetrisno's election, however, is not surprising as the young
businessman has won full support from Amien, the party's founding
leader who now leads its advisory board.
"I'm leaning more toward SB than the others," Amien said,
referring to Soetrisno by his initials. "It's like a father who
is old and feels the time has come to die and therefore leaves a
last testimony."
Soetrisno's way to election was paved with the withdrawal of
his major contender, Hatta Radjasa, who said he would focus on
state jobs as the minister of transportation.
Amien said his preference for Soetrisno had a strong basis.
"In my opinion, he (Soetrisno) will have ample time to take
care of the party because he is neither a government official nor
a lawmaker," Amien said on the sidelines of the groundbreaking
ceremony of Muhammadiyah University's integrated campus in
Semarang. The 1.6 hectare campus will cost Muhammadiyah Rp 77
billion (US$8.2 million).
Amien said the fact that Soetrisno, who Amien said had been
financially aiding PAN since its inception in 1998, was a
successful businessman was another advantage.
When asked about Soetrisno's capacity, Amien said his heir
apparent was intellectually capable.
"As a businessman and politician, God willing, he (Soetrisno)
can match Muhammad Jusuf Kalla and Aburizal Bakrie," Amien said
as quoted by Antara.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who also chairs the Golkar Party,
and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal were prominent
businessmen before serving in the Cabinet.
Along with his brother, Kamaluddin Bachir, Soetrisno founded a
holding company, Ika Muda Group, which made most of its money
from property and shrimp farming. The group entered the media
industry and later published the Republika daily.
Soetrisno left Ika Muda and developed a separate business
focusing on investment under the flag of Sabira Group.
His involvement in PAN has something to do with his membership
in Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim
organization, which Amien led before he turned to politics in
1998.
Soetrisno said he had built close ties with Amien since 1995.
"I can say I was the one who handled Pak Amien's functions," he
said.
Among targets he cited during the election was to lead the
party to securing 100 House of Representatives seats in 2009.