Parties hail nominees amid backroom politics
JAKARTA (JP): With a presidential showdown set for Oct. 20, diehard supporters of the leading candidates lauded their nominees as shoe-ins for victory amid increased back-room politics on the sidelines of the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Golkar Party Assembly member Marwah Daud Ibrahim expressed optimism for incumbent B.J. Habibie's nomination.
"Golkar is confident B.J. Habibie will be elected as president because support for him is firm," she claimed here on Saturday.
Marwah brushed off statements by some parties, notably the National Awakening Party (PKB), that they would reject the presidential accountability speech.
"I don't think we should apprise the situation in a positive manner. How someone judges another person is highly subjective, I'm sure there are both good and bad points," she argued.
Her remarks came as speculation grew that Golkar chief Akbar Tandjung was swaying away from Habibie.
Marwah, however, declared her conviction that the party would not abandon Habibie.
"We (Golkar) have never thought of reviewing B.J. Habibie's nomination. If there is some internal debate about it then I think it's only natural within an organization," she claimed.
Senior United Development Party (PPP) executive A.M. Saefuddin said he would mobilize whatever power he had to ensure that Habibie was reelected, claiming that the incumbent possessed more qualities than any other candidate.
"I predict Habibie already has 397 Assembly members backing him," said Saefuddin, who served as minister of food and horticulture in Habibie's Cabinet.
He even claimed to receive divine wisdom in his selection: "I contemplated while asking wisdom from God. It turned out that is the strongest."
Separately, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Permadi Satrio Wiwoho revealed that behind the scenes top Golkar officials were already "approaching" PDI Perjuangan about an alliance to support Megawati Soekarnoputri's nomination.
"I believe the two parties will share power, especially since there's already been a special meeting between Megawati and Akbar," he said, without giving details.
He said the basic foundation was that the two leaders both want to work together.
Permadi said that a coalition between PDI Perjuangan, Golkar and other parties may, in the end, be a good idea as it would allow greater political control.
"A coalition Cabinet is good as long as no one betrays the others," he added.
PDI Perjuangan's Jakarta chapter chairman, Roy BB Janis, confirmed that Megawati's chances were growing as several leading party leaders, regional representatives and interest group representatives had affirmed their support.
"Support for Megawati is becoming more solid as it is not only coming from PDI Perjuangan," he said.
Roy maintained that if the elections were open and fair, then there would be little doubt of Megawati winning.
He stressed the need for an open ballot during the election proses in order to avoid incidents of political bribery.
"In principle, whatever system is used is fine, as long as it is open to combat any engineering and money politics.
"If it is closed, who can control the likelihood of money politics," he said.
To avoid their representatives taking bribes, PKB representatives took an Islamic oath, bai'at, before they were sworn in as Assembly members on Friday.
The oath is meant to mentally obstruct whatever vices may come their way. PKB has said it would support Megawati's nomination. (amd/byg/rms/emf)