Jakarta – A rift in Indonesia's powerful Golkar party deepened yesterday, threatening to pull the rug from under President Megawati Sukarnoputri's carefully assembled coalition just weeks before she seeks a second term.
In the latest sign that trouble is brewing in the Megawati camp, a group of Golkar's top executives broke ranks to voice opposition to the party's decision to back the incumbent in the September 20 presidential race.
The move comes a day after 52 legislators from rival parties, including Ms Megawati's own Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle, announced they would be backing her rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Golkar legal chief Marzuki Darusman said top officials had created a forum to question the decision by the party, which won the legislative polls in April, to announce block support for Ms Megawati and her running mate.
According to him, about 150 Golkar party members including executives signed up to the 'Open Forum for Renewal' at a meeting also attended by Mr Yusuf Kalla, a Golkar businessman who is Mr Bambang's running mate.
"Through this forum we call on 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.
Mr Darusman said the forum was established as an answer to growing unrest among party members who felt the decision to back Ms Megawati did not reflect aspirations at grassroots level.
Another group, the Forum for Golkar Party Cadres and Voters, issued a statement on August 25 also rejecting the party's decision to back Ms Megawati.
The Indonesian leader, meanwhile has refused her opponent's offer for a televised debate on issues confronting the world's fourth-largest country, an official said yesterday.
Instead, Ms Megawati and Mr Bambang will appear beside each other and answer scripted questions in three television appearances. But they will not be allowed to quiz each other, said election commission spokesman Sinta Satriana.