Jakarta – Golkar, which elected Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla as its chairman earlier this month, will replace its faction chief in the House of Representatives.

Mr Mohammad Hatta's replacement will harmonise party policies with those of the legislators in the House, Golkar's deputy leader Agung Laksono said on Monday.

Mr Agung, who is House Speaker, also stressed that the faction leader must be a member of Golkar's central executive board.

This will ensure effective implementation of the policies of Golkar, the nation's largest party, he said.

He did not say who would replace Mr Mohammad, but Golkar executives Andi Mattalata and Paskah Suzetta have been mentioned as possible candidates.

Mr Mohammad, a supporter of former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, was excluded from the party's new central executive board.

Under Mr Akbar's leadership, Golkar set up an opposition coalition in the House of Representatives.

The coalition includes the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle, the Prosperous Peace Party, the Reform Star Party and, later, the National Awakening Party.

It helped Mr Agung secure the post of Speaker of the House.

With his support, the Vice-President convincingly defeated Mr Akbar in the contest for the chairmanship of the party in Bali last week.

Mr Agung denied that Golkar would remove Akbar loyalists as commission leaders in the House.

Such leaders include Mr Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, Mr Akil Mochtar and Mr Ade Komaruddin.

He said any reshuffle of commission leaders would be decided independently by the legislative body in charge of revising the House's standing orders.

Mr Ade said he and his colleagues were not worried about the possible replacement of Golkar commission leaders.

"We will accept whatever decision the party leader makes. We must follow the rules," he said.

Mr Ade, who says he is a close friend of Mr Jusuf, said he was confident that the Vice-President would accommodate the interests of various groups in Golkar.

Golkar legislator Musfihin Dahlan said the party could act as either a supporter or opponent of the government's policies.

A clear position, he argued, would help Golkar legislators work together more effectively.

Fellow Golkar legislator Djoko Purwongemboro said he expected Mr Agung to play a dual role as Speaker and Golkar deputy leader.