PAN's younger members cast doubt on newly-elected chairman

Hera Diani and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Semarang

The younger generation of the National Mandate Party (PAN) expressed disappointment on Monday over the election of Soetrisno Bachir as the party's leader, saying the process was undemocratic and only accommodated the party's elite instead of the grassroots.

Imam Addaruqutni from the Muhammadiyah Youth, one of PAN's larger support bases, said the election process last weekend was proof that "authoritarianism still endures in the party."

"It does not exclusively occur in our party, but all parties," Imam claimed as he spoke to The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He said although founding leader Amien Rais remained a charismatic figure in the party, his decisions were not always correct. Therefore, Amien's effort to lobby on behalf of Soetrisno, a businessman with no political experience whatsoever, was a disappointment for Imam.

"Maybe he has financial power, but money isn't everything," Imam rationalized, referring to Soetrisno's successful ventures in shrimp farming, real estate and investment.

Actress and PAN member Paquita Wijaya said under a new leader with no track record in politics, the party's direction would not be clear.

"All we can do is just wait and see. But to become a party with a strong voice, it has to reform itself first," she said.

Former leader of Muhammadiyah Youth Djoko Soesilo, meanwhile, was a little more optimistic, saying that perhaps Soetrisno's strong business background would bring more professional skills in managing the party.

"But it's not an easy task. It depends on the team Soetrisno appoints, which should accommodate a variety of interest groups," Djoko, who is now a House of Representatives member, said.

Both Djoko and Imam emphasized the importance of embracing Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization in the country, which remains the backbone of the party's support.

During the 1999 election, however, PAN became "too secular" and estranged conservative Muslim voters from Muhammadiyah, which recently urged a group of younger members of the organization to form a separate party, citing disappointment with PAN.

"Without considering the majority base, Soetrisno's position will be difficult as his election was the result of a top-down process. He must also shy away from the party's authoritarianism system and form his own system by approaching majority stakeholders," Imam said.

Djoko added that since the new leader was not very well-known, the rest of his team must consist of more familiar faces, and meet the quota of at least 30 percent women.

"The team must also comprise scholars, activists and people with international contacts. The young members must also be accommodated, as well as those from groups of fisherman, farmer and the mass media, which have not really been considered," he said.

Failure to form a good team, he added, would prevent the party from excelling in the next election.

PAN ranked sixth in the 2004 election, with its popular vote down slightly from 7.5 million in 1999 to 7.3 million last year.

Amien was aware of criticism against his prominent role in the party despite his relinquishing the top job.

"In the next six months to a year, I may still be involved a lot in the party as the head of the advisory council, but it is only in terms of a political learning process for Soetrisno," Amien said.

The PAN congress in Semarang closed on Tuesday with Soetrisno unveiling a 12-person team that would select the party's central board members. The team included Amien and Soetrisno's contenders for the party's top post, Didik J. Rachbini and Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa.

Speaking to journalists, Soetrisno said his first item on the agenda was to help PAN win 40 regent posts in the upcoming regional elections.