Wiranto, Paloh told to unite

Wiranto, Paloh told to unite

JAKARTA: Senior Golkar member Muladi said on Tuesday the
government wanted the party to replace current leader Akbar
Tandjung with either Wiranto or Surya Paloh at its congress next
month.

"The government will pay attention to the congress because it
does not want to see Golkar, as a powerful institution, to be led
by a person who has the potential to annoy the government. But
the government cannot intervene," Muladi said after a meeting
with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is a Golkar patron.

Muladi suggested that retired Army general Wiranto and media
magnate Paloh join forces to defeat Akbar in the leadership
election at the congress.

Wiranto defeated Akbar for the party's presidential nomination
at a convention in April.

Muladi met with Kalla to ask the Vice President to open a
seminar that will be hosted by the Habibie Center at the Sahid
Hotel in Central Jakarta on Nov. 30. -- JP