Wiranto strong presidential candidate: Golkar

Wiranto strong presidential candidate: Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto may be one of the country's
strongest presidential candidates, Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki
Darusman said on Saturday.

Speaking to journalists after addressing a forum jointly
organized by Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic
Studies and the Center for Contemporary Islamic Studies, Marzuki
described Wiranto as an acceptable figure for major political
parties contesting the general election on June 7, including
Golkar.

"And based on initial views and polling it would seem to be
the case that of the five names that have been circulating, Mr.
Wiranto does in fact enjoy the widest support across the board --
going beyond particular or individual political parties," Marzuki
said.

Marzuki said the incumbent, President B.J. Habibie -- who took
over the presidency from Soeharto and was therefore never elected
-- still had a chance to retain the presidency. He added that
Golkar would also pick Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the Yogyakarta
governor, as another potential candidate. Sultan and Wiranto both
have been tipped for presidential or vice presidential posts.

Marzuki, however, did not mention Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung as another possible contender for the post. Akbar
himself has repeatedly said Golkar would only nominate Habibie
for the post.

"I think the sequence will be the other way around and that is
to look for a candidate that meets the expectations of the
majority of the factions," he said, as quoted by AFP.

Marzuki, also chairman of the respected National Commission on
Human rights, cited two other candidates from opposition parties
as strong rivals for the three figures. He said chairwoman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati
Soekarnoputri and chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
Amien Rais also had a chance.

This is the second time Marzuki has addressed a forum in
Singapore, after his first visit last month at the invitation of
the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Megawati and Amien have
also addressed similar forums in Singapore.

Marzuki said last month that Habibie was still leading the
presidential race, but added that he was not the ideal man.

When asked about his party's strategy to win the general
election, Marzuki said Golkar's game plan was to win enough votes
in the polls to be part of a coalition government.

"The strategy now is just to win enough to be part of a
coalition government. If we get less than 20 percent, my personal
view is that Golkar will become the opposition," he noted.

Minister

Separately, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz
said on Saturday that, if the government ruled against Cabinet
ministers going on the electioneering trail, he would resign from
his post as investment minister in order to campaign for his
party.

Speaking in Temanggung, Central Java, Hamzah said he would not
consider taking leave for the purpose. "Nothing like that. If
ministers are barred from campaigning and have to choose, then I
will choose to go on campaigning and resign as minister," he said
as quoted by Antara.

Hamzah was indirectly referring to Akbar Tandjung who has said
he will ask for leave from his position as minister/state
secretary in order to campaign for Golkar.

Hamzah also said his party had decided that all of its
legislative candidates must campaign.

From Cianjur in West Java, Antara reported that chairman of
the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Yusril Ihza Mahendra had called on
all 48 political parties contesting the elections to launch
peaceful campaigns starting May 15.

"No unrest, please, so we don't create fear among people," he
said before about 100,000 supporters. He also called on his party
cadres to abide by the law and to be on their best behavior when
they join campaigning activities.

"There's no place in our party for hoodlums, extorters or
drunkards," he said. "Campaigning should become a time for public
political education on how to live in a democracy, not a time for
trading condemnations and slander."

Meanwhile in Ujungpandang, the capital of South Sulawesi, the
University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel) reported
it had found several irregularities in voter registration in the
province.

Provincial Unfrel chairman Darwis said his team found that
registration officials in Soppeng, Polmas and Enrekang regencies,
had put Golkar's code number of 33 on each registration form.

In Enrekang, 420 kilometers north of Ujungpandang, Unfrel
volunteers found the head of the regency's Ministry of Education
and Culture, Mustakim, had persuaded teachers and ministry
officials to vote for Golkar in the upcoming general election.

In Majene regency, head of local Ministry of Cooperatives and
Small Enterprises required all traders wanting to borrow money
from a cooperative to produce proof they were members of the
People's Sovereignty Party (PDR).

In Pemalang, Central Java, supporters of the United
Development Party (PPP) attacked a gathering of the National
Awakening Party (PKB) in Mega village reportedly because the
gathering was opened by the village chief. (prb/27/45/swe)