Wiranto rues lengthy convention

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