Two candidates left for swimming body
Two candidates left for swimming body
JAKARTA (JP): Delegates from 24 provinces who gathered at the national congress of the Indonesian Swimming Federation here yesterday split their votes prior to the election of their new chairman slated for today.
The congressmen put two prominent figures, Siti Hediyanti Prabowo, also known as Mbak Titiek, and former chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita on the overnight nomination list.
Titiek, a daughter of President Soeharto, was dubbed the favorite to take the association's helm for the next four-year term in place of outgoing chairman Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo.
Ginanjar, minister of national development planning and chairman of the national development planning board, is Sanyoto's predecessor.
The election will cap the two-day congress, which is also expected to set up the association's planning until the end of the millennium.
L. Widjanarko, a training official from Central Java, told reporters during a coffee break that the province would throw its weight behind Ginandjar in today's election.
"Ginandjar led us to a successful period when he took office," Widjanarko said.
Widjanarko said that the Central Javanese delegation would like Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, also a former chairman, to take over the association's technical affairs due to his experience.
Central Java will also nominate some businesspeople to the leadership board since the association needs financial aid.
The support for Titiek as the new chairman mounted yesterday, although she has yet to accept her nomination.
"I agree to Mbak Titiek's nomination although I hardly know her. I think she will lead us to success if she is assisted by experts," Ule Latumahina, an official from Irian Jaya said.
Jakarta and West Java delegations earlier expressed their support of Titiek's nomination.
If she is elected she will be the second of Soeharto's daughters to chair a sports organization. Titiek's eldest sister, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana was elected as the chairman of the Indonesia Volleyball Association last week.
Their younger brother, Hutomo Mandala Putra, chaired the Indonesian Motor Sports Association from 1991 to 1995.
Chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, urged the new leadership board of the association to help Indonesian swimmers regain their supremacy in the 19th Southeast Asian Games here next year.
"The 18th SEA Games saw national swimmers with their worst outcome since 1977," Wismoyo said recently. (05)