Golkar plans to get keen and clean

Adianto P. Simamora ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/03/2008 11:14 AM  |  National

Golkar Party is gearing up for the upcoming elections with a range of strategies, including replacing less active party executives and accepting more female legislative candidates.

Golkar leader Jusuf Kalla, who is also the Vice President, said Friday he would replace party executives who were considered not to be doing enough for the party.

"As the general elections draw nearer, the party machinery must be set in motion. That's why party executives who are not active will be replaced," Kalla told reporters after opening a national consultative meeting at the Golkar head office.

He refused to state which party members would be shown the door.

The meeting came after Golkar's double defeat in the gubernatorial elections in West Java and North Sumatra to the coalition led by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Kalla said the reshuffle would take place at all levels of the party, from the central board in Jakarta to the lowest village level.

"All members must do their best to help Golkar win the upcoming elections. We will continue to monitor the performance of the executives," he said.

On Friday, Golkar formed a special team tasked with formulating the party's strategies for the 2009 legislative and presidential election campaigns.

The team is led by deputy chairman Agung Laksono, who is also the House of Representatives speaker.

Kalla said the party would allocate more legislative seats to younger candidates and women in a bid to attract more voters.

About 60 percent of the party's legislative candidates will be young, Kalla said.

"About 10 percent of the candidates will be newcomers whom we consider to have the potential to improve Golkar," he said.

Agung, Golkar's Advisory Board chairman Surya Paloh and secretary-general Soemarsono attended the two-day consultation, which concluded Friday.

National elections for members of the House, regional legislatures and the Regional Representatives Council will be held on June 5, 2009.

Kalla also promised to clean up the party in a bid to improve the party's image ahead of the elections.

He said the party would neither tolerate corruption nor defend members who were jailed for graft.

"The party will defend only those who are facing injustice. If they are proved guilty of corruption, collusion or nepotism, we will not defend them and will allow legal action against them," he said.

He said the party's reputation had deteriorated after several party members were sentenced to prison for corruption.

"I warn all party members against corruption because the party does not protect corrupt members," he said.

The party has set a target of reaping 30 percent of the vote in the upcoming elections, 6 percent higher than its vote in the 2004 polls.

Kalla also banned fund-raising from government offices and state companies headed by Golkar members.

"The party's image will be one of the major factors that will encourage voters to choose Golkar," he said.

Kalla said some political parties had taken advantage of the regional elections to collect money.

"Golkar has not earned a cent from the regional elections," he said.

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