Seven nominees secure ticket to Golkar convention

Kurniawan Hari and Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya

At least seven of Golkar's 19 presidential aspirants have secured a ticket to the party's preliminary convention to choose five candidates after winning the support of at least five provinces as required by the convention.

Of the 27 provinces that had reported their provincial convention results, 26 provinces have thrown their weight behind businessman Aburizal Bakrie, putting him in top position among the candidates. Trailing behind him are former military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and media baron Surya Paloh with 23 provinces each.

Party chairman Akbar Tandjung comes fourth with 19 provinces, while Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla ranks fifth with 17 provinces.

Former commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen.(ret) Prabowo Subianto and Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X rank sixth and seventh, with 14 and six provinces respectively.

Theo L. Sambuaga was backed by three provinces, while Moehono, Marwah Daud Ibrahim and Haryono Suyono were backed by only one province each.

The other eight candidates -- Anwar Fuady, Kemala Motik Gafur, Muladi, Nurrulah Marzuki, Rivai Siata, Setiawan Djodi, Tabrani Rab and Tuti Alawiyah -- have not received support from any province.

Only 30 of the country's 32 provinces participated in the convention. Provinces that have not reported their convention results are Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

The party will choose five presidential candidates later this month before choosing its sole candidate in February or April 2004.

The preliminary result, however, does not necessarily reflect the final outcome of the convention as preferences of provincial and regental chapters may change in the national convention.

The seven qualified candidates will have to fight for 531 votes up for grab in the national convention -- 18 votes from Golkar's executive board, 10 votes from Golkar-affiliated organizations, 90 votes from 30 provincial chapters with each chapter allocated three votes and 413 votes from 413 regental chapters.

The five candidates that get the highest votes will be declared presidential candidates. One of them will be named the party's presidential candidate in April or May next year.

Convention deputy secretary Rully Chairul Azwar said last night there were irregularities in the convention results in some provinces.

"We are not saying there is money politics. Possibly, the irregularities are because of a misunderstanding about the convention mechanism," Rully said.

Meanwhile, chairman of Golkar's East Java chapter Ridwan Hisjam said that the result of the convention would officially be submitted to the party's executive board during the party's leadership meeting scheduled for Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

He said the province's result which put Akbar in first position had indicated that the party chairman was accepted.

There are some provinces that submitted different versions of the convention result. The final result will be announced after all provinces finish the convention.

Preliminary results --------------------------------------------------------------- No. Candidate Number of supporting provinces --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Aburizal Bakrie 26 2. Wiranto 23 3. Surya Paloh 23 4. Akbar Tandjung 19 5. Jusuf Kalla 17 6. Prabowo Subianto 14 7. Sultan Hamengkubuwono X 6 8. Theo L. Sambuaga 3 9. Moehono 2 10. Marwah Daud Ibrahim 1 11. Haryono Suyono 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Only 27 provincial chapters recorded