Wiranto rues lengthy convention

JAKARTA: Former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto criticized on Friday a plan to extend Golkar Party's national convention to select its presidential candidate, saying it would tarnish its image.

Wiranto, one of Golkar's presidential hopefuls, said the plan would not materialize.

"I trust the (convention) committee and morality of Golkar Party. They will not take a decision that may tarnish their own image," he told a media briefing here on Friday.

Golkar leaders are considering an extension of the convention during the party's leadership meeting scheduled for Oct. 17 through 19.

Based on the original schedule, Golkar would have announced its sole candidate in February next year. However, there have been demands from regional chapters to delay the announcement until the results of the legislative election are disclosed.

Critics have said the maneuver was simply aimed at allowing party chairman Akbar Tandjung to buy time, due to his legal difficulties. Akbar awaits the Supreme Court's verdict on his appeal following his conviction in a graft case by lower courts. -- JP