Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – At the opening of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) congress in Palembang on Monday, the Golkar chairman and his predecessor shook hands and exchanged smiles as if nothing untoward had happened between them in recent years.
But deep under the surface, the country's largest political party is plagued by prevailing division between its elite groups loyal to current leader and Vice President Jusuf Kalla and former party chairman Akbar Tandjung.
Some party figures acknowledged that the split, traceable back to the party's 2004 national congress in Bali when Kalla defeated Akbar to claim the chairmanship, had weakened the party and explained its defeats in its traditional strongholds in the regional elections.
Kalla's move to Golkar's top job cost many of the party's experienced and influential figures with strong ties to Akbar their positions on the central executive board (DPP), paving the way for new, sometimes inexperienced members loyal to the Vice President.
The factions supportive of Kalla were associated with House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono, Regional Representatives Council Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita and media tycoon Surya Paloh.
Seasoned politicians like former youth and sports minister Mahadi Sinambela, House legislation committee chairman Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, Slamet Effendy Yusuf and Rambe Kamarulzaman have all been sidelined from the party's inner circle for their alliance with Akbar.
Golkar lawmaker Hajriyanto Y. Tohari, perceived also as one of Akbar's men, said the DPP had always formed the party's backbone for its efficiency and consistency in managing the party's affairs and coordinating with the regional branches.
"But since the Bali congress, the DPP has been filled with supporters of the winning camp regardless of their capability. They just don't know what they should do to win regional elections. Many times, they just change the party regulations at will to serve their own purposes," he said.
In the absence of Kalla, who is busy with his state work, Hajriyanto said DPP members capitalized on Kalla's losing grip on the party to pursue their own interests and neglect regional elections.
Golkar lost its traditional strongholds, including West Java, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara in the recent gubernatorial elections.
The latest national surveys by Indo Barometer and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) put Golkar far behind the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for the 2009 legislative election race.
CSIS political analyst Kusnanto Anggoro agreed that the split had played a pivotal role in weakening Golkar as Akbar's supporters would not seriously work for the elections, hoping the poor showing would delegitimize Kalla, and if possible depose him from office.
The party's deputy secretary-general Rully Chairul Azwar acknowledged the division, but dismissed it as the reason for the poor performance. He blamed poor selection of candidates instead.
Golkar lawmaker Harry Azhar Azis said that different political views between Kalla and Akbar was normal and would not lead to Kalla's ouster considering the party's well-established democratic culture.