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Golkar Party internal competition heats up

Tempo Interactive - June 28, 2007

Erwin/Gunanto/Tomi, Jakarta – Akil Mochtar, a Golkar Party politician, has said that internal competition inside his party is heating up after the meeting between Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (DPI-P) leaders and cadres in Medan, North Sumatra, last week.

"One of the concrete forms is the evaluation endeavors to be carried out by the Central Leadership Council (DPP)," he told Tempo yesterday (27/6).

Akil said that currently at least three factions are competing tightly in Golkar. These factions are the Jusuf Kalla, Agung Laksono and Surya Paloh groups.

This member of the House Law Commission said this in response to Golkar Deputy General Chairman Agung Laksono's statement, which wanted to accelerate the evaluation into the meeting in Medan.

"This weekend," said Agung yesterday regarding the schedule of evaluation that was accelerated from the previously planned late July. "The evaluation will be carried out thoroughly, whether (the coalition plan) will be continued or terminated."

Agung said the reason for accelerating the evaluation was the tension from Golkar cadres, which question the friendship meeting called a preliminary step toward the two grand parties' coalition.

The cadres, said Agung, also question Surya Paloh's position as the Advisory Council Chairman – which is regarded as having surpassed DPP daily management's duty and authority. Surya Paloh in fact came to the meeting in Medan.

A young Golkar politician, Yuddy Chrisnandi, said he agreed with the evaluation schedule being accelerated. According to him, the coalition plan is a strategic measure which cannot only be decided by an Advisory Council Chairman. "The Medan meeting caused debate inside Golkar."

Earlier, Jusuf Kalla said the Medan meeting has no relation with the plan of coalition with PDI-P in facing the 2009 General Election.

Kalla emphasized he had known about the meeting's plan earlier. He also acknowledged having informed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a few days before the meeting was held. "It's just a normal meeting."