INQUIRY SOUGHT AFTER MINISTER'S DECISION ON GOLKAR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 15 (Antara) - The internal conflict of the Golkar Party protracted after its tribunal did not take a decision on the legitimate of one of the party's dual leaderships.          The Golkar Party splintered into two camps last December, between Abrurizal Bakrie, elected as leader at the Bali congress, and Agung Laksono who emerged as leader at the Jakarta's Ancol congress.          Aburizal Bakrie has earlier filed a lawsuit with the West Jakarta District Court to challenge the leadership of Laksono, yet the court rejected it as the Golkar Tribunal was expected to resolve the squabble.          However, the tribunal failed to take a final decision, leaving the case to be dealt with at the Attorney General's Office (AGO). After all, the Bakrie camp has also filed a cessation with the AGO.

GOLKAR ENTERS NEW PHASE OF INTERNAL SQUABBLES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 11 (Antara) - The former political machinery of the New Order government, the Golkar Party, entered a new phase of internal squabbles after Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly recognized one of its feuding factions on Tuesday.          "After receiving a decision from the party's tribunal and studying it carefully, we decided to go with the party's tribunal decision to give recognition to the Central Executive Board formed in the Ancol congress in Jakarta," Laoly said in a news conference here on Tuesday.          Last December, the Golkar party splintered into two camps, with one of its conflicting factions supporting Agung Laksono and the other remaining loyal to incumbent chief Aburizal Bakrie.          Aburizal Bakrie was re-elected general chairman of the party when his Golkar camp organized a congress in Bali in December, while Agung Laksono was named chief of the other Golkar faction during a congress in Ancol, Jakarta, in the same month.          Both Laksono and Bakrie claimed that they were the party's legitimate leaders.          Since then, the country's oldest party had been split into two factions, with Bakrie leading a faction based on the party's congress in Bali and another under Laksono based on a Jakarta congress of the party.

GOLKAR WARNED OF SPLIT IF CONFLICT ESCALATES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 27 (Antara) - A political observer warned on Thursday that the internal conflict within the Golkar Party could create a breakaway faction if it continued to escalate.          "If Golkar does not act wisely and accommodate its cadres' aspirations in the run-up to its congress, it will be abandoned by them," political observer Ahmad Atang of the University of Muhammadiyah in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, said on Thursday.          The current rift within the Golkar Party, which is the second largest seat holder in the legislature, will most likely create a breakaway faction. It will lead to the formation of a new political party after its national congress in Bali on November 30, Atang stated.          "The new party will most likely be set up by cadres who felt sidelined, a similar scenario that took place in the cases of Surya Paloh, Wiranto, and Prabowo Subianto," he added.          The central executive board meeting of the Golkar Party early this week was marred by clashes, following the emergence of two camps that had a difference of opinion regarding the date of the next congress.          While one camp agreed to the decision taken at a Golkar leadership meeting in Riau to hold the congress in January 2015, the other demanded that the meeting be held on November 30, as discussed at a leadership meeting in Yoyakarta.

GOLKAR SHOULD DEMONSTRATE MATURITY IN RESOLVING INTERNAL RIFT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 26 (Antara) - As one of the oldest political parties and former political machine of the New Order Government, Golkar should demonstrate a mature outlook in dealing with internal issues and resolving internal conflict.          "Friends in Golkar are all mature cadres. They should not quarrel. Internal issues should be settled democratically. Neither side should exert pressure on the other," Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is also a former general chairman of the Golkar Party, stated here on Tuesday in response to the internal squabbles over differences of opinions related to the holding of a congress to elect a general chairman.           Members of the youth wing of Golkar (AMPG) stormed into a Golkar Party central executive board meeting in Jakarta on Monday evening to protest against the meeting's attempt to re-schedule its congress from the previously planned January 2015 to the end of this month. The congress will be held to choose a new leader after the incumbent Aburizal Bakri, who seeks re-election, completes his term of office.           Clashes erupted again on Tuesday between the members of two camps of the party at its office in Jalan Anggrek Neli Murni, West Jakarta.           The conflict broke out after the Golkar central executive board plenary meeting chaired by Golkar Deputy General Chairman Theo L. Sambuaga decided that the congress would be held on November 30, 2014.

GOLKAR WARNS CADRES FOR JOINING NATIONAL DEMOCRATS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 25 (ANTARA) - Second winner of the 2009 general elections Golkar Party has called on its cadres who joined the National Democrats (Nasdem) to reunite, or face discharge if the organization, which was founded by media magnate Surya Paloh, turns into a political party.          "The Golkar Party is from now reminding its cadres to return. If they have been reminded repeatedly and still stay there while Nasdem has become a political party, they will be sacked. They cannot possess membership in two concurrent political parties," Golkar General Chairman Aburizal Bakrie said.          Bakrie believed that Nasdem, which was founded by a number of Golkar cadres sphere headed by Paloh, a Golkar patron board member, was being prepared to become a political party. Paloh recently hinted Nasdem's ambitions of mobilizing as a political party in time to contest the 2014 general elections.          Bakrie said that Golkar's cadres should be gentle and possess single loyalty to Golkar so that cadres who had joined Nasdem should return to Golkar.          Nasdem is a social organization movement founded by Surya Paloh, a patron board member at the Golkar Party. Paloh founded the National Democrat movement shortly after he was defeated by Aburizal Bakrie during a vote to name the chairman of the party at Golkar's national congress in Pekanbaru, Riau province, in October 2009.         Several high-profile Golkar members currently hold key posts as National Democrats, including Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) official Syamsul Ma'arif, who is the organization's secretary general, and TV news anchor Meutya Viada Hafid, who heads its division for women, youth and student affairs, according to the Jakarta Globe. Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwiono X, has also joined the organization.          However, Bakrie said that the presence of Nasdem was not a threat to Golkar. "The presence of Nasdem is no threat to Golkar. It is only a small social organization," he said after a discussion on the impact of the ruling party coalition secretariat on democracy on Thursday night.          Bakrie said that he pleased Nasdem if it was willing to stay as a mass organization but warned that it should not influence the Golkar Party cadres. However, Golkar will not leave it unquestioned if Nasdem tries to tempt, influence or even incite the Golkar Party cadres.          "If it develops a disturbing situation, the Golkar Party will act," Bakrie who is also a former chief minister for people's welfare and the chairman of the ruling party coalition secretariat, said.          Therefore, he said that if Nasdem later became a political party, cadres should return or quit the Golkar Party.          The party's deputy secretary for organization affairs, Samsul Bahri meanwhile asked  Golkar Party cadres that have joined the National Democrat organization to resign and return to the party's fold.  "So far we are still appealing to them and have not yet given any warning. However, Golkar will issue firmer directives if its appeal is ignored," he said.          Nurul Arifin, another deputy secretary general of the party, said it was unethical for the leaders of Nasdem in recruiting its members because they use Golkar's infrastructure.          "There are many Golkar cadres in Nasdem. They are both Golkar's executives and those who are not accommodated in the current Golkar leadership. They recruited Nasdem members using the Golkar Party's infrastructure," Nurul Arifin, said.          Arifin explained that Nasdem approached Golkar cadres in a number of provinces in Indonesia asking them to join as if Nasdem was part of Golkar.          Previously, Golkar Party Secretary General Idrus Marham called on party cadres not to be influenced by approaches made by Nasdem.          "To those who have already joined it we ask them to withdraw and reunite to build Golkar Party together," Idrus Marham said on Wednesday, stressing that the mass organization was not part of the Golkar Party infrastructure and was being prepared by its founders to become a political party later.          Signs that the National Democrat was being prepared to become a political party, he said, could be seen from the organization's efforts to set up executive boards at provincial, district and mayoralty levels so far by recruiting Golkar Party cadres, he said.          "Therefore, I call on party cadres not to be influenced by any offer from the National Democrat organization and to remain loyal to the Golkar Party," he said on Wednesday.          The National Democrats responded by saying Golkar's warning was inappropriate, and called for a high-level dialogue between officials from the two groups to settle any differences, according to the Jakarta Globe.          On Thursday however, Marham said that Golkar warning for all its members to steer clear of the National Democrats social organization should not be misconstrued as a sign of the party panicking over the emergence of a potential rival.          Marham said the party did not see the organization as a threat. He also clarified his earlier warning by saying Golkar members currently affiliated with the National Democrats would not face administrative sanctions. However, he went on, if the organization went on to become a political party, Golkar members would have to pick a side.          The National Democrats' organization and membership head, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, said Idrus'claim that Golkar did not feel threatened by the group made no sense in light of his earlier call for party members to distance themselves from the social organization.***1*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A014) 25-06-2010 18:33:0

GOLKAR IS A 'GOOD BOY' IN COALITION

By Andi Abdussalam

           Jakarta, Feb 26 (ANTARA) - The Golkar Party has adopted a bold and critical stance regarding alleged violations in the Bank Century bailout case in an effort to reveal the truth so that a solid coalition and stronger government could be created.

         Golkar's critical stance with regard to the Bank Century bailout case is clear, namely to recommend to the law enforcers those suspected responsible for violations in the disbursement of the bailout.

         Thus,  voicing critical stance is something that Golkar has to do for the improvement of the government.

         "We have to be bold in saying what is true and what is wrong. Thereby,  we hope the government will become stronger after the Century case and the coalition will become more solid," Golkar Chairman Aburizal Bakrie said when he installed the executive board of  Golkar's Riau chapter on Friday.

         Aburrizal Bakrie said Golkar would continue to adopt a stern attitude and not cover up any mistakes made by the government in the Bank Century case.

         The same voice was also raised by Golkar Chief Patron Akbar Tanjung. He said that partners in a coalition should work together to create a clean government.

         "Partners in a coalition must work together to create a clean government. What Golkar is doing with the inquiry into the bailout case is part of what President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the committee to do, namely to disclose the Bank Century case completely," Akbar said.

         A House inquiry committee is investigating alleged violations in the extension and disbursement of a bailout fund for Bank Century in late 2008 amounting to Rp6.7 trillion.

         Together with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Golkar in its final views on the Bank Century bailout case had mentioned names of persons it considered responsible for the disbursement of the Bank Century bailout worth Rp6.7 trillion.

         PKS and Golkar are among the nine political party partners in the Democratic Party (PD)-led ruling coalition. PKS and Golkar had stated that Boediono (former governor of the central bank, now Vice President) and Sri Mulyani (former chief of the Financial System Stability Committee - KSSK) as the most responsible persons in the Century bank case.

         A number of Democratic Party (PD) leaders have expressed disappointment over the attitude of a number of ruling coalition partners which was not in line with that of the PD with regard to the Bank Century bailout case.

         Before the factions delivered their final views, several PD leaders appeared in TV reports saying that those who did not follow the line should better withdraw their ministers in the government.

         "They had better withdraw their ministers," Hayono Isman, a member of PD board of patrons, said. The same voice was also expressed by PD secretary general Amir Syamsuddin. "We are awkward to claim they are our coalition partners," Syamsuddin said in a TV show debate.

         Golkar, however, hopes that in spite of its critical stance it would remain within the coalition. According to Aburizal Bakrie, his party intended to remain within Yudhoyono's ruling coalition.

         "Golkar hopes to  remain in  the coalition," he said refuting the opinion that Golkar had  violated the coalition agreement by issuing a harsh statement.

         "Our agreement in the coalition was to seek the truth," he added.

         Therefore, Golkar intended to join the coalition. After all, so far there is not pressure against its minister in the government.

         "There is no pressure at all,"  Golkar senior cadre Agung Laksono, who is also chief minister for people's welfare affairs in Yudhoyono's government said  on Thursday.

           He said Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie had so far not  instructed him to withdraw from the cabinet, he said emphasizing that Golkar had no intention to leave the coalition. The party, he said, was sticking to its initial commitment to support the government under President Yudhoyono  until 2014.

          After all, the Democratic Party has also expressed its intention to maintain the coalition even if there are differences.

         "The Democrat Party prefers to remain friends (with its coalition partners) and will maintain the coalition despite the differences," Anas Urbaningrum, a PD associate chairman, said.

         "The differences are still about a matter at committee level and not something at government level," he said.

         Anas who is the chairman of the Democrat Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) said it was not proper for the DPR as a political institution to mention the names of state officials allegedly responsible in the matter.

         "The mentioning of names is inappropriate and incorrect. Names may be mentioned only after a legal process has taken place and even then is done according to a certain norm, namely by giving only their initials," he said.

         Therefore, the Democrat Party faction had not mentioned any names in its final view on the inquiry committee's findings, said Anas who is also a member of the inquiry committee.

         He said the stances that had been demonstrated by party factions in the committee had provided a momentum for the Democrat Party to strengthen the coalition.

         "The Democrat Party will intensify its political communications with its coalition partners," he said.

      
(T.A014/A/HAJM/17:40/a014)



(T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 26-02-2010 17:45

GOLKAR LIKELY TO FACE TOUGHER TIMES

By Andi Abdussalam

 

     Jakarta, Oct 9 (ANTARA) - The Golkar Party is likely to face tougher times ahead as its popular support is unlikely to increase drastically after the party's chairmanship was won by Aburizal Bakrie who is expected to make the party a government supporter, observers say.

        "With the election of Aburizal Bakrie as Golkar chairman for the 2009-2014 period, Golkar is unlikely to undergo a fundamental change," Prof Dr AB Tangdililing of Pontianak's Tanjungpura University said.

        Under the leadership of Aburizal Bakrie, Golkar will likely maintain its present position in the government. Thus, popular support will not increase drastically despite personnel changes in the party's central executive board.

        "Maybe, Golkar voter support in the future will increase but only slightly. Or maybe it will be stagnant or even drop," Tandililing said.

        He said the fact that Aburizal Bakrie, popularly called 'Ical was personally a part (minister) of the government was one of the factors contributing to his victory in Golkar's chairmanship race on Thursday.

        "This is one of the assets for him to win the contest," Tangkililing said. The other factor is the support of certain Golkar's senior cadres such as Akbar Tanjung, Theo Sambuaga, Fadel Muhammad and Agung Laksono.

        However the observer reminded that Ical's camp should not sink in the victory euphoria. "This maybe a temporary victory while in the long run, it would virtually be the victory of the Democratic Party," he said referring to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's party which won the recent legislative and presidential elections.

        The Democratic Party itself immediately welcomed the victory of Aburizal Bakrie as the new chairman of the Golkar Party on Thursday. Democrat Party associate chairman Anas Urbaningrum said with Aburizal's election, his party would feel "more comfortable" in its political cooperation with Golkar.

        "We believe it will be easier to develop communications and understanding (with Aburizal at Golkar's helm) regarding future development of the country. So far, the Democrat Party feels comfortable communicating with Golkar and Ical (Aburizal). We also believe Golkar will remain on friendly terms with the Democrat Party," Anas said.

        The chairman of human resources of the Democrat Party, Andi Mallarangeng, meanwhile said the Democrat Party hoped Golkar under the leadership of Aburizal would continue to be able to cooperate with the next government.

        "Aburizal has so far been in the cabinet with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and so they are already used to cooperation. Therefore, we hope the cooperation will continue," he said.

        However, Tandililing said that Ical was not the appropriate figure to lead Golkar at present. "If it is led by Surya Paloh, Golkar may undergo a different condition because he is not part of the government so that he will make different efforts to advance Golkar," he said.

        In Thursday's Golkar chairmanship race, Ical, who was a member of the Golkar Advisory Board, faced tough competition from Surya Paloh who was the party's chief patron. Ical won 296 of the votes while Paloh garnered 240 votes.

        Therefore, in order to advance Golkar in the future, Ical should embrace all senior cadres. "Aburizal Bakrie must embrace them so that Golkar will grow and shine in this country again," political observer Prof Dr Suwardi in Medan, North Sumatra, said.

        Aburizal Bakri should involve senior cadres if he wants to realize his ideas of making Golkar an independent party loved by its supporters.

        Besides, the new Golkar chairman should also embrace all components in the party to remove internal differences so that the party would remain solid. "Golkar is a big party and this should be reflected in the 2014 general elections," Suwardi said.

        In the meantime, Golkar Party Advisory Board member Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X expressed hope that Ical would be able to consolidate all the party's potentials.

        "I personally congratulate Ical on his election as chairman of the Golkar Party, but I hope he will be able to consolidate all the party's potentials, including cadres at regional and central levels," Sri Sultan.

        The Yogyakarta governor said whatever the decision made at the Golkar National Congress in Pekanbaru, Riau, should be respected and implemented. "I hope Ical will be able to implement what was decided at the congress and make a difference in the party," Sri Sultan said.

        He said Ical had no significant problem in his leadership and therefore he was expected to lead the party into a better direction.

        "There is no problem with Ical's leadership because he has a lot of experience in Golkar organizational affairs," Sri Sultan said.

        Meanwhile, political observer of the University of Indonesia Andrinof Chaniago said the victory of Aburizal Bakrie over his rival Surya Paloh will not create internal frictions within Golkar.

        "Golkar is a senior party and its politicians have mature mentality in the organization. That's why the possibility of the emergence of internal frictions is small," Chaniago said.

        He said that Golkar's cadres have mature mentality so that they were able to control excessive personal or group pressures in the internal political affairs.

        "Maybe there will be an awkward situation in the coming several days after the elections due to disappointment but this situation will improve soon," he said. ***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/18:30/a014)

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 09-10-2009 19:01:05

GOLKAR NEEDS REPOSITIONING FOR ITS FUTURE

By Andi Abdussalam

 

   Jakarta, Oct 7 (ANTARA) - The Golkar Party which is now holding its Eighth Congress in Riau province needs to reposition itself in order to win critical voters ahead and to regain its past glory.

        "Golkar has to use the congress as a good momentum to reposition itself because it needs a new position to avoid an impression of being identical with the New Order," Burhanuddin Muhtadi, a political scientist of Paramadina University, said.

        It seems however that Golkar in the current congress spends much time and energy concentrating on who it will elect general chairman for the 2009-2014 term of office, succeeding Jusuf Kalla.

        In the current congress there are four aspirants which are racing for the Golkar top post, namely Golkar Chief Patron Surya Paloh, Supervisory Board member Aburizal Bakrie, Golkar young cadre Yuddy Chrisnandi and Hutomo Mandala Putra or Tommy Soeharto, the late president Soeharto's youngest son.

        "The congress should serve as a starting point for Golkar to discuss strategies on how to rise again ahead. But it seems that provincial and district executive boards (DPD I and II) are using the forum to nurture transactional politics to decide who is most proper to chair the party," Muhtadi said.

        Virtually, the four candidates have their respective visions and missions on how to develop Golkar, but the visions and missions are being swallowed by hustle and bustle of money offers and ads.

        "It seems that Golkar has not changed yet as reflected in the high nuance of transactional politics. It is too busy talking about who would be named chairman, while the chairmanship matter is only one of the many issues that the congress has to discuss," Muhtadi said.

        On the second day of the congress on Tuesday rivalries among aspirants looked sharpening, particularly between the camp of Aburizal Bakrie and that of Surya Paloh.

        Bakrie even happened to accuse outgoing general chairman Jusuf Kalla of being on the sides of one of his rivals. Kalla in his opening address of the congress said that Golkar was not used to staying outside the government. "But neither is it used to begging for (executive) power," he said.

        Surya Paloh has campaigned that if he was elected chairman he would make Golkar an independent party and lead it outside the government in the next 2009-2014 term of office. "If elected, Surya Paloh will lead Golkar to be independent and stay outside the government to ensure the proper functioning of democracy in the country, a member of Paloh's success team, Sugeng Suprawoto, said.

        On Kalla's statement, Aburizal Bakrie's supporters, including Akbar Tanjung (a former Golkar chairman) strongly criticized Kalla's remarks, saying that Kalla was inconsistent and was trying to bring the party into the opposition side.

        But to the press, Aburizal Bakrie also said that Kalla's statement was a personal statement. "For me Golkar should be independent, and independent to think about its cadres and independent in its acts," he said.

        Akbar Tanjung was of the opinion that Kalla should not have made such a statement in his opening address, saying Kalla was inconsistent with the Golkar congress in Bali in 2004.

        Tanjung said that in 2004 he proposed that Golkar should stay outside the government but Kalla, when elected as general chairman, brought the party to support the government.

        "But why now Kalla wants Golkar to stay outside the government. His statement was a personal opinion, not of the party. If the government asks Golkar cadres to fill cabinet posts, why not," Tanjung, who now also seemed to be inconsistent with his position in 2004, said.

        Kalla told reporters later that his statement in his opening address was not a personal opinion but in his capacity as a general chairman of a political party. "As the general chairman, that is my views for Golkar's future," Kalla told reporters.

        He said Golkar should supervise the government in the sense that it should provide a critical, objective, proportional and constructive criticism for the need for a check and balance. "This is important to prevent the recurrence of a new order government style," Kalla said.

        Kalla's position became a top issue among 1,600 congress participants and over 10,000 sympathizers who came from throughout Indonesia to Riau to listen to his opening address on Monday night.

        Bakrie responded to Kalla's position accusing him of taking sides with one his rivals. "Kalla seems to have taken sides. But I heard and I asked him, he said he had not. So, I consider the matter to be his personal opinion," Aburizal Bakrie said.

        In the meantime, Surya Paloh said if he was elected Golkar Party chairman he would not prohibit party cadres from being appointed as cabinet ministers or filling other government posts although Golkar was independent.

        "If elected, Surya Paloh will not prohibit cadres from being appointed to certain posts in the government, including in the cabinet. But he will not beg for government posts for Golkar cadres," Sugeng Suprawoto, said.

        He said Golkar would appreciate it if a Golkar cadre was appointed for a cabinet post. But if the cadre concerned was a party board member, he or she would have to resign from the board.

        Rivalry in the Golkar chairmanship race is not the only important issue in the current Golkar congress. More importantly, the congress should look into how to develop a strong Golkar to regain its past glory in the future.

        For this, according to Burhanudddin Muhtadi, besides repositioning, the Golkar congress should also re-evaluate its defeat in the recent legislative and presidential elections. It needs to find out why its vote turnout dropped drastically.

        Muhtadi also suggested that Golkar should turn its congress as a forum to formulate reconciliation and regeneration steps to build consolidation. "Golkar must be strong and rise to regain its past glory," he said.***1*** (T.A014/a/H-NG/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 07-10-2009 12:19:17