Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – A conviction on corruption charges and a three-year jail sentence have eroded Indonesian parliamentary Speaker Akbar Tandjung's chances of contesting the 2004 presidential elections.
His political career of 30 years has been irreparably tainted even if a higher court later accepts an appeal and overturns the guilty verdict delivered against him on Wednesday.
Mr Akbar, who also heads the Golkar party, was found guilty of misusing 40 billion rupiah of the state's money meant to aid the poor in 1999. He has not been arrested, however, pending a decision on his appeal, which could take months.
"He has been involved in massive public deception and it is hard to accept any justification for that," said political analyst Affan Gaffar. "To the public, he is a corruptor."
A Golkar official told The Straits Times: "He had reached the pinnacle of his career, it's downhill from now." Mr Akbar is now a liability to the institutions he heads, analysts say, which is why both Parliament and Golkar are eager to unseat him.
His long-time political opponents, who have been feeling betrayed by him in the past four years, were also taking advantage of the moment to put a brake on his career.
These include the supporters of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who resented Mr Akbar's role in the impeachment of their leader last year, and the members of Golkar's Eastern Indonesian caucus.
The latter have blamed Mr Akbar for former president Habibie's failure to enter the 1999 presidential race.
A legislator close to Mr Abdurrahman told The Straits Times: "Mr Akbar is known for his notorious political manoeuvres. The wheel has turned now." Several parliamentarians have called on him to resign from the speaker's post.
Among them is Parliament Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, who said that a special council might well be established to decide on Mr Akbar's fate.
Within Golkar, top officials are lobbying the leaders of the regional party chapters, whose votes are crucial for leadership changes, to call for a national congress to replace Mr Akbar.
Said one Golkar official: "As a party with the unfortunate historical link to the previous regime of president Suharto, it will cost Golkar dearly not to let him go." Party officials are also said to be using negative media reports with which to quietly press Mr Akbar into resigning to avoid further public disgrace.
Those mentioned as potential replacements include Social Welfare Minister Jusuf Kalla, former justice minister Muladi and Golkar executives Agung Laksono and Fahmi Idris.
Sources said President Megawati Sukarnoputri's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), might also be glad to see Mr Akbar go.
"Golkar is PDI-P's only major nationalist ally. If Golkar is dragged down by Akbar's case, the PDI-P would have to contest the Islamic coalition in Parliament by itself. It would be Islam against secular and Ms Megawati's position may be in trouble," they said.