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)