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)