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Agung, Ical talk at friend's birthday bash
As good as it gets: Despite an ongoing dispute over chairmanship, leaders of two rival factions in Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie (left) and Agung Laksono enjoy a light moment during a friendâs birthday party on Wednesday night in Kemang, South Jakarta
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span class="inline inline-center">As good as it gets: Despite an ongoing dispute over chairmanship, leaders of two rival factions in Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie (left) and Agung Laksono enjoy a light moment during a friend's birthday party on Wednesday night in Kemang, South Jakarta. JP/Rendi A. Witular
Golkar Party adversaries Agung Laksono and Aburizal 'Ical' Bakrie, who have been feuding over the control of the nation's second-biggest party, briefly buried the hatchet as they simmered down over glasses of wine in their first meeting in three months late on Wednesday.
At birthday bash of a friend, Adiwarsita, held in Kemang, South Jakarta, Agung said he had bumped into Ical and that the crowd applauded their reunion and told them to sit side-by-side.
'We just chatted. No deal or serious talk. We just enjoyed the music, and of course the wine,' Agung told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
'We're friends. We jointly set up ANTV in the 1990s. Personally, there are no problems at all. We don't owe each other any debt, and I've never bothered his family. We're just different in the way we view politics,' he said, adding that the last time they met was in December.
Golkar has split into two factions, one led by Ical and the other by Agung, whose leadership was recently recognized by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, who is soon slated to issue a letter of confirmation on Agung's leadership.
Agung has promised to support President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's administration and leave the Red-and-White Coalition.
In securing full control over Golkar, Agung has rearranged the party's management, rooting out supporters of his rival but keeping some who are willing to switch sides.
'I've sent a letter to Pak Ical to propose a reconciliation. The respond came so late and he eventually rejected it. He told me to wait for the court decision,' he said.
'But there have been calls from people in his camp, telling us that they want to join us.'
