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.