No place for bribes at congress: PAN exec

No place for bribes at congress: PAN exec

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A senior executive of the National Mandate Party (PAN) has
expressed concern over vote-buying allegations to garner support
ahead of the party's congress to replace current leader Amien
Rais, who said he will not seek reelection.

A.M. Fatwa, a cofounder of the party, said "certain
candidates" had offered gifts or cash to leaders of PAN regional
chapters, who would be entitled to vote at the leadership
meeting.

"I ask fellow party members to avoid such practices as it will
hamper efforts to fight corruption. The eradication of corruption
should start from inside the party," he said in Jakarta on
Thursday.

Fatwa said that the suspected candidates contesting the PAN
leadership congress have offered, for example, free plane tickets
to party leaders from regional branches.

However, he declined to name names.

PAN, the fifth biggest faction in terms of seats in the House
of Representatives, will convene for a four-day congress on Feb.
8 in Semarang, Central Java.

One key item on the agenda is the election of a new party
leader to replace Amien, who is fresh off a resounding defeat in
the first round of presidential polling on July 5, 2004.

Fatwa, currently a deputy speaker of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), said it was very unlikely that Amien's successor
would be committed to combating corruption, if he or she wins the
race as a result of vote-buying.

In addition to allegations of bribery, there were a number of
businesspeople in contact with "certain candidates" to offer
financial support, Fatwa said.

He also voiced worries that the close relations between the
candidates and businesspeople would eventually pave the way for
corruption and collusion between them.

The candidates who were receiving support from certain
businesspeople were those with a lack of support from the
regional branches, Fatwa added.

Typically, a candidate that receives financial support from
businesspeople to ensure their victory in the PAN congress, will
later be obligated to pay back the "favor" by helping secure
business contracts, if they do become the party leader.

Among the strong candidates vying for the top post are former
finance minister Fuad Bawazier, Muslim scholar Moeslim
Abdurrahman, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa and party
legislators Ahmad Farhan Hamid and Afni Achmad.

Separately on Thursday, Fuad Bawazier said that most PAN
members wanted their next party leader to be someone who can work
full time on strengthening the party.

He suggested that a new PAN chairman should not be someone
currently holding a strategic position in the state
administration to avoid conflict of interests.

Fuad was apparently referring to Hatta, who is a member of the
current Cabinet under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.

Commenting on the alleged indications of corruption ahead of
the congress, Fuad said he had not heard such allegations.

He said that he had consulted with Amien Rais before deciding
to run in the election.

Earlier, PAN legislator Alvin Lie Ling Piao said that it was
difficult for his party to find people with the same character
and abilities as Amien Rais, a former MPR speaker.

Alvin, therefore, urged the next PAN leader to build a strong
team to promote internal consolidation within the party.