Kalla hints at retirement

In the aftermath of his apparent loss in the July 8 presidential election, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has hinted at retiring from politics.

"Take as many pictures of me because I'm not going to be here in the next three months," Kalla told reporters as he was walking from his office to a nearby mosque in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, to perform Friday’s prayer.

Kalla was accompanied by his campaign team leader Fahmi Idris and Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsudin.

During a televised debate prior to the polls recently, Kalla said he would return home should he lose the election.

Kalla, in his capacity as the Vice President, congratulated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) on Thursday after quick counts revealed the incumbent President secured over 60 percent of the votes. Kalla gained only around 12 percent of the votes.

The defeat has reopened the fracture within Kalla’s Golkar Party. Golkar legislator Hari Azhar Azis said the party was divided between one camp that was moving closer to Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the other one that wanted to form an opposition bloc.

Fahmi, who is also the Industry Minister, said it would be awkward for Golkar to play the opposition role. (hdt)