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.