Wiranto visits Sultan

Following in the footsteps of fellow Golkar Party presidential hopeful Surya Paloh, former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret). Wiranto paid a visit to Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X on Friday.

Speaking after the meeting, Wiranto said he shared his concerns about several national issues and Golkar internal affairs with Hamengkubuwono, who is also Yogyakarta governor, during the brief meeting.

"I've told you that although the sultan has withdrawn from the party convention, he has not distanced himself from Golkar. He encouraged me to go ahead and participate in the convention," Wiranto said.

During the convention, Wiranto and five other Golkar figures, including chairman Akbar Tandjung, will vie for the party's endorsement to contest the direct presidential election on July 5.

Hamengkubuwono withdrew from the selection after Akbar was acquitted of graft charges last month.

Wiranto denied that his visit was a move to woo support from Hamengkubuwono and Golkar constituents in the province. Wiranto is a Yogyakarta native.

"I had hoped to meet the sultan for a long time, but could only find the time now," Wiranto said.

Wiranto recently won support from Muslim clerics in West Java. He also met former president Abdurrahman Wahid twice last month. -- JP