Jakarta (Agencies) – A number of executives from the Golkar Party defiantly set up a faction to support the candidacy of the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla.

The establishment of the Golkar Party Forum for Reform is in direct opposition to the party leadership's forthright order for all members to vote for incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi, the Antara news agency reported.

Kalla, a Golkar executive himself, attended the declaration of the forum at the Hilton Hotel here, along with some of the top Golkar members, including Fahmi Idris, Marzuki Darusman, Burhanudin Napitupulu and Yoris Raweyae.

According to Marzuki, some 150 Golkar party members, including the party's top executives, signed the "Open Forum for Renewal" at the meeting.

"Through this forum we call on all people, especially the Golkar family wherever they are, to make use of their political rights and the voice of their conscience in the second round of the presidential elections," a statement by the group said.

Marzuki said the forum was established as an answer to growing unrest among party members who felt the decision to back Megawati did not reflect the aspirations at the grassroots level, according to the Agence France Presse.

Last week, four parties – PDIP, the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) – formed the Nationhood Coalition to support Megawati in next month's presidential election.

The Reform Star Party (PBR), a break-away faction from the PPP, and the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme) have also expressed support for the Nationhood Coalition.