Soeharto urged to help poor people

Soeharto urged to help poor people

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung has urged former
president Soeharto to direct the Dakab Foundation to hand over
its funds to the government to help low-income families weather
the crisis.

Akbar, who had previously demanded that the money be given to
Golkar since the foundation's mission was to finance the
political grouping's activities, said on Saturday Golkar could
find its own financial sources. The foundation's funds could be
used to feed starving people, instead.

"Golkar has sent a letter to the former president, who chairs
Dakab, to give the money to the government," Akbar told Golkar
leaders in Jambi.

Dakab was set up in July 1985. Its assets are worth Rp 836.2
billion (US$70 million).

Soeharto also chairs four other foundations, their cumulative
assets totaling about Rp 3.7 trillion.

Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib disclosed on Tuesday
that his office had found that one of the foundations had some
discrepancies in the management of its funds.

Soeharto lost his position as chief of Golkar's board of
patrons during the party's extraordinary congress in July.

The former president has refused to hand over the foundation's
funds to Golkar, saying that it did not belong to the party.

Akbar apparently became upset when he realized that Soeharto
had decided to directly finance provincial Golkar chapters
without his consent.

The Golkar chairman met with Soeharto last month and offered
him a Rp 26 billion house on behalf of President B.J. Habibie,
saying the former executive was entitled to a luxury residence
for his services to the country for 32 years.

The offer apparently failed to woo Soeharto.

"I have asked all Golkar leaders in the provinces not to
receive money (from Soeharto) because it may divide and cause
conflict among us," Akbar was quoted by Antara as saying.

Akbar said he remained optimistic that he would still able to
collect donations from Golkar supporters despite the economic
crisis. (prb)