President may allow ministers to campaign
President may allow ministers to campaign
JAKARTA (JP): President B. J. Habibie will most likely allow
Cabinet ministers to join election campaigns under certain
conditions, State Secretary/Minister Akbar Tandjung, who is also
the chairman of Golkar party, hinted on Thursday.
"The President is preparing a government regulation which
will arrange a leave of absence for ministers participating in
election campaigns," Akbar told reporters.
He said Golkar had assigned several ministers to campaign for
the ruling party between May 19 and June 4 and they would take
leaves of absence to perform their party missions.
Among the ministers to join the Golkar campaign are Manpower
Minister Fahmi Idris, Minister of Public Housing Theo Sambuaga,
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono, State
Secretary/Minister Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for
Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita,
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal
Tanjung and Coordinating Minister for Public Welfare Haryono
Suyono.
"But the Golkar board has issued a clear-cut ruling that bans
ministers from using state facilities for their campaign
activities. All the costs related to their electioneering
activities will be borne by Golkar," Akbar asserted.
Separately, the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP)
decided on Thursday to wait for an edict on presidential
candidates from its board of ulema.
PPP chairman Hamzah Haz said a two-day leadership meeting here
selected several names as prospective presidential candidates,
but the edict was required because of the party's reversion to
its earlier Islamic basis.
"There are many figures within the party who fit the bill for
the top post, so for sure we will not nominate people other than
PPP cadres," Hamzah said.
But party executive A.M. Saefuddin named five PPP figures as
top contenders for the presidency. He identified them as Hamzah,
former PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, former secretary-
general of the National Commission on Human Rights Baharuddin
Lopa, PPP's Yogyakarta chief Alfian Darmawan and himself.
Hamzah said PPP would only unveil any names of candidates
after the June 7 polls. He added the meeting concluded with the
establishing of criteria for the next president.
"The candidates must be Muslims and this country's best
people, with broad future vision and able to apply Islamic
values," Hamzah said at the closing of the meeting here.
On whether the criteria extended to a female candidate, he
said: "Let's wait for the edict from the ulema."
Hamzah, who is also state minister of investment, said he
would welcome the party's support for his candidacy.
Ismail, who was Hamzah's predecessor, said his successor was
"very qualified" and held the greatest chance of representing PPP
in the race for the presidency. (edt/prb)