Soeharto endorses 1,000 members of Assembly
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has endorsed the entire lineup of 1,000 people for the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which will meet to elect the country's next president and vice president in March, the Ministry of Home Affairs said yesterday.
The Assembly consists of all 500 members of the House of Representatives, and another 500 members chosen from various walks of life, from politicians, civil servants and the military, to religious leaders, regional leaders and public figures.
The new members will be sworn in on Oct. 1.
Most politicians and analysts say MPR is likely to reelect the incumbent 76-year-old President for a seventh five-year term in March. There has been speculation, however, about the vice presidential post.
The Assembly will be strongly dominated by Golkar, with 488 members. The powerful Armed Forces (ABRI) faction will have 113 members, the United Development Party (PPP) 134, and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) 16.
The faction of regional representatives will have 149 members.
The remaining 100 members will be representatives of various groups, mostly mass organizations and professional associations. They will not have a faction of their own, as they traditionally join Golkar during the Assembly meeting.
The list of MPR members published by the government yesterday included all members of the present cabinet.
State Minister of Special Assignments Harmoko heads the list and his position as Golkar chairman makes him the front-runner for the job of speaker of the House and chairman of MPR.
Other senior government officials in MPR include former director general of sociopolitical affairs at the Ministry of Home Affairs Soetoyo N.K., inspector-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs Soedardjat Nataatmadja, deputy secretary-general of the General Elections Institute Walujo, outgoing vice governor of Jakarta Idroes and director for political affairs at the Ministry of Home Affairs Suko Martono.
Also representing Golkar will be President Soeharto's children Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Siti Hediati Prabowo and Hutomo Mandala Putra, as well as daughter-in-law Halimah Trihatmodjo. All took active parts in May's general election campaigning for Golkar. Vice President Try Sutrisno's son Isfan Fajar Satryo is also on the list.
Golkar also includes artist Rano Karno, businessmen Sudwikatmono, Pontjo Sutowo, Aburizal Bakrie, Fadel Muhammad, Tanri Abeng and Edwin Kawilarang and youth leader Yorrys Th. Raweyai as MPR representatives.
The faction of regional representatives includes all governors of the country's 27 provinces and commanders of the 10 regional military commands.
The ABRI faction includes ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Arief Kushariadi, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Sutria Tubagus and National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo.
The 100 MPR members from various groups include representatives from the five recognized religions (Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism and Buddhism), scientists, artists, the media and the business community.
Islam will be represented by ulemas from the two largest Moslem organizations -- Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah -- and also the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI). However, both NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid and Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais were not included.
Catholics will be represented by Victor Immanuel Tanja, while Protestants by chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches Soelarso Sopater. Hindus will be represented by I Putu Suranta Sukreta and Buddhists by Oka Diphutra.
Artists will be represented by Ratno Timur and Rinto Harahap, while Jakob Oetama and Sjamsul Basri will represent the media.
The business sector will be represented by Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, Arifin Panigoro, Iman Taufiq, Anthony Salim of the Salim Group and textile businessman of Texmaco Group Marimutu Sinivasan.
University students will be represented by Fadli Zon. (imn)