Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto has recruited two "outsiders" as new members of its executive board: former military general Eko Wiratmoko and former head of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Anang Iskandar.

Eko now serves as leader of the party's political, legal and security affairs desk, replacing Setya's stern critic, Yorrys Raweyai. Anang, meanwhile, will lead Golkar's newly established research and development unit.

As head of his division, Eko – who once served as the secretary to Golkar senior politician Luhut Binsar Panjaitan when the latter was coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister – will be involved in selecting candidates for the 2019 legislative election.

Anang will work closely with Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham and head of the party's internal affairs department to improve the party's image ahead of the election.

Golkar made the announcement during a closed-door plenary meeting led by Setya himself at the party's headquarters in Slipi, West Java, on Wednesday. "We hope all party members will comply with the decision and work together," Idrus told reporters after the meeting.

Wednesday's meeting marked the first time Setya was seen in public after reportedly being treated for a medical condition.

The Golkar chairman, who recently won a pretrial motion that lifted his status as a corruption suspect, remained tight-lipped on the matter. (ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/11/golkar-takes-former-generals-on-board.html