We have fought to combat corruption: Akbar Tandjung

We have fought to combat corruption: Akbar Tandjung

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While highlighting improvements in the economy and national
stability as its main platforms, the Golkar Party has vowed not
to snub the increasingly louder anticorruption voices during the
upcoming election campaign.

"It's a matter of accentuation. In fact, we have fought and
will always combat corruption," Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung
stated during a meeting with The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Akbar said, however, the party would put the economy at the
top of its priority list.

"We have learned that economic improvement is the main concern
of people, especially those in rural areas," he said,

Golkar, Akbar said, understood that people were disappointed
with the country's economy, which had not recovered since the
crisis hit in 1997.

The reform movement, to which people rendered much hope to
bring prosperity to Indonesians, has failed to improve the
economy in some areas, bringing mounting skepticism to people
whether the post-reform governments, including that of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, can lead the nation out of crisis, Akbar
said.

The disappointment, according to Akbar, was aggravated by the
fact that the nation had been facing unrest and separatism
following the reform movement.

"People are now longing for the good ol' days when the Golkar
Party was ruling. And, that is true. We were able at that time to
offer the people a strong, decisive and able government, that
could bring stability and prosperity to people," he said,
referring to the three-decade rule of the New Order regime under
former president Soeharto.

Akbar said the party would still rely on its traditional voter
base, like civil servants, farmers and families of the Indonesian
Military (TNI).

However, he asserted that the party had made a break with the
past and would join forces with the society in eradicating
corruption, collusion and nepotism.

As evidence of that, he said Golkar legislators at the House
of Representatives (DPR) had helped speed up the establishment of
the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"It was not well covered by the media, perhaps," said Akbar,
who was flanked by other Golkar executives, including deputy
chairman Theo Sambuaga and secretary general Lt. Gen. (ret) Budi
Harsono.

The anticorruption drive, which is mainly being spearheaded by
the urban educated middle class, will be among the main themes
that Golkar would pursue in the campaign period in the upcoming
general election, Akbar added.

Akbar bitterly acknowledged that Golkar had been dogged by
corruption charges and the stigma of the New Order oppression.

The party chairman and presidential candidate is awaiting for
the Supreme Court's verdict of his appeal of the three-year jail
term handed to him in a graft case.

Asked about Golkar's vote target in the April election, Akbar
said the party was eying an increase to of 30 percent overall
from 22.4 percent in 1999.

"It is a realistic target," said Akbar.

The optimism was attributed to the fact that many people were
disappointed with the post-reform governments.

He said Golkar would benefit from in-fighting that was
plaguing its arch rival, the Megawati-led Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle.

Megawati's party won 34 percent of the votes in 1999.

"We might well win the general election overall," Akbar
concluded.