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