Wiranto, Marwah begin presidential campaign
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
Former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Golkar deputy chairperson Marwah Daud Ibrahim kicked off their quest for the presidency with a tour to win support from the party's constituents here over the weekend.
The rally at Golkar's party chapter office came less than a week after they confirmed their participation in the party's national convention to select its presidential candidate.
Speaking before 200 Golkar supporters, South Sulawesi native Marwah pledged to boost the democratization process in the country.
"For me the opportunity from Golkar for its cadres to compete in the convention is proof that democracy is on track," Marwah, a mass communication expert, said.
Golkar was the political machine of the New Order regime under former president Soeharto, who stepped down in May 1998 following a wave of student rallies. But Golkar survived the most difficult period for the party, thanks in part to chairman Akbar Tandjung.
Akbar is also contesting the convention despite his conviction in a graft case. The convention committee has scrapped the requirement for a candidate to submit a police clearance to show that one does not have a criminal record to take part in the selection, in an apparent move to facilitate Akbar's participation in the convention.
Marwah, also known as one of Akbar's critics, said she believed the convention would proceed in a fair and transparent manner.
The capital of South Sulawesi is one of seven cities across the country that will host the Golkar rally for 19 presidential candidates who are joining the convention.
The party will short-list five candidates in October and choose its sole presidential aspirant in October.
Wiranto had his turn to speak before Golkar supporters in South Sulawesi on Sunday along with Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.
Speaking after a discussion to review his newly launched book here, Wiranto expressed his bid to win Golkar's support for the landmark direct presidential election next year and said he would not settle for vice president.
"The president is the main person who will determine the success of the country. That's why I want to be president and not vice president," he said.
Wiranto came under international scrutiny after state prosecutors exempted him from the list of suspects in the human rights violations before and after the UN-administered referendum in East Timor in 1999. At that time he was the chief of the TNI, which was entrusted to maintain security in the former Indonesian province.
He wrote his newly published book titled: Testify amid the storm in remembrance of the 1999 upheaval in East Timor.
Wiranto said he would promote efforts to strengthen law enforcement, the eradication of corruption and improvement of people's welfare during his presidential campaign.
Convention participants also include Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, media mogul Surya Paloh, businessman Aburizal Bakrie and former Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto.
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid has withdrawn from the convention out of disappointment with the lack of transparency in the selection process and the alleged involvement of money politics. Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar followed suit, citing his workload as a Cabinet member.