PDI-P backs Golkar official for MPR

PDI-P backs Golkar official for MPR

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction on the City Council stirred more controversy
on Friday by naming a Golkar official among its candidates to
represent the city in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

In a surprise to many, the party's City Council faction
nominated outgoing MPR member Sjah Manaf to remain in the
country's policy-making body.

"We decided to nominate Manaf because he is a Betawi (native
Jakartan) leader. We were not following the lead of other
factions which earlier declared Manaf as their candidate,"
councilor Pantas Nainggolan said.

Manaf was third on the party's list of five candidates for the
MPR legislative seats.

Hobes Sinaga, a member of the research and development center
of the city chapter of PDI Perjuangan, topped the list, followed
by Maj. Gen. (ret) Sutjipno, a former head of the Police Staff
College (PTIK).

Meanwhile, Prof. M.K. Tadjuddin, a former rector of the
University of Indonesia, ranked fourth, and Sukardjo, a member of
the party's executive board, fifth.

The Golkar Party faction announced on Thursday that it would
nominate Manaf, 68, who is a relative of the city's secretary
Fauzi Bowo. Manaf, a member of the supervisory board of the
Golkar city chapter, is a MPR member from the regional
representative faction.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) will also reportedly
nominate Manaf.

All nine votes from the military/police faction, which earlier
announced that it would take a passive role in the election of
city representatives for the MPR, will likely go to Manaf in the
election scheduled for Monday.

PDI Perjuangan faction members are likely to vote for Hobes
and Sutjipno, who is also a member the party's research and
development center.

Members of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United
Development Party (PPP) factions are expected to maintain their
support for their own candidates. PAN faction members will vote
for Zaenuddin Azis, and PPP faction members for Achmad Suaidy.

Based on preliminary calculations, PDI Perjuangan is expected
to secure two seats in the MPR, with PAN, PPP and TNI obtaining
one each.

Meanwhile, council deputy speaker Djafar Badjeber said on
Friday that the council had decided the chairmen of the council's
five commissions.

Djafar said Commission A for administrative affairs would be
led by Maringan Pangaribuan of PDI Perjuangan and Commission B
for economic affairs by M. Syarief Zulkarnaen of PPP.

Amarullah Asbah from Golkar chairs Commission C for financial
affairs, councilor Binsar Tambunan of PDI Perjuangan leads
Commission D for development affairs and councilor Edy Suchro
from PAN leads Commission E for social welfare affairs, he
added.(jun)