The Golkar Party must name its presidential candidate soon or risk losing its most popular figures to other party alliances, its leader says.

Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono said Thursday with the presidential election nearing, the party may lose the opportunity to select its best potential candidates as many would seek alternative routes and alliances to secure power in the July polls.

Agung made the statement after a Wednesday night meeting between Golkar advisor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader and presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The two were reported to have tentatively arranged another meeting in Yogyakarta on Monday.

Golkar chairman Jusuf Kalla, also the Vice President, has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions the party should name its presidential and vice presidential candidates before the legislative elections in April in order to allow for a larger time frame in which to campaign.

“We should question the central board’s decision to put on hold the selection of Golkar presidential and vice presidential candidates,” Agung said.

His statement may have been designed to pressurize Kalla into putting beyond doubt speculation that he will run as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono deputy for a second term under the banner of Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.

Other major contenders, such as the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), have announced their respective presidential candidates and begun intensive campaigns.

Presidential and vice presidential candidates must be nominated by political parties, according to the law.

Agung said the sooner Golkar selected its candidates, the more big names in the party would still be around to answer the call.

He said the PDI-P’s move to approach Hamengkubuwono should serve as a warning for Golkar to act fast.

“But we realize that the sultan does not represent Golkar,” Agung said.

A number of recent popularity polls have placed the sultan as the favorite for both president and vice president posts.

If Hamengkubuwono accepts PDI-P’s offer to run with Megawati, he will emulate Kalla’s decision to team up with Yudhoyono in 2004 without Golkar’s support.

Other Golkar members who have announced their presidential bids include Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Yuddy Chrisnandi and Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad.

Political expert Yudi Latif said Agung’s statement represented the view of Golkar leaders who were anxious about its prospect to have one of its own candidates elected president.

“After responding emotionally to the Democratic Party’s move to claim the credit for the SBY

administration’s success, this may constitute Golkar’s second public complaint,” Yudi told The

Jakarta Post.

He said the party should show courage by acting on the statement and immediately announce its presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“Golkar should act fast and precisely in naming candidates, or else it will pay dearly,” he said

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