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Discourse: Golkar supports Jokowi, ends use of party for business interests: Agung

Agung Laksono

Margareth S. Aritonang and Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post)
Fri, March 20, 2015

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Discourse: Golkar supports Jokowi, ends use of party for business interests: Agung

Agung Laksono. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

After a stiff power struggle, senior politician Agung Laksono is on the verge of taking control of the Golkar Party from tycoon Aburizal Bakrie, who had been at the helm of the nation'€™s second-biggest party since October 2009. As Agung awaits a decree from the Law and Human Rights Ministry confirming his leadership, he talked with The Jakarta Post'€™s Margareth S. Aritonang and Rendi A. Witular on Thursday about the party'€™s new course under his leadership. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Question: What'€™s your plan for Golkar?

Answer: I am carrying out the mandate of the Ancol congress that stipulates the need not to be part of any coalitions forged during the past presidential election. We should not be fragmented into coalitions that will only preserve the residues of hate and revenge stemming from the outcome of the election.

However, the congress has also required Golkar to position itself as a critical partner of the government. We are a supporter of the government, but we still have the room to provide criticisms to the government.

We have declared that we are no longer part of the Red-and-White Coalition [the opposition camp]. We'€™re one of the parties that support the government.

So Golkar'€™s position will be similar to that currently displayed by the Democratic Party?

No. We'€™re a government-supporting party. I am not shy to underline that. But we'€™re not part of [President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s] Great Indonesia Coalition. What'€™s important is that we'€™re always behind the government and we will prevent any attempts to disturb the government from functioning well, as well as defending the President from impeachment attempts.

Will Golkar seek Cabinet positions in exchange for the support?


I never demanded any conditions [from Jokowi]. I am clear on that. We should sincerely provide our support. If we can show that we can perform, there will automatically be demand from the government for our members to be included in the Cabinet. We'€™ve never demanded four ministerial posts as we understand that we'€™re a newcomer. It'€™s not good to make requests. We will just be what we are.

What will you do differently in managing the party?


The party will be managed openly in a democratic way. Decision-making will not be taken only by myself or by my friends'€™ factions. It should be based on existing mechanisms. A decision taken by a plenary meeting should be carried out accordingly. It is important for me to involve as many elements as I can in the decision-making process.

That is among the reasons behind the Ancol congress, as many party members were disappointed [with how decisions were made]. Their disappointment has peaked to the level that they demand the forming of a team to save the party from falling into the abyss. The party has seen its performance declining.

There is a nuance of the party being used to coax business interests. The evidence is hard to find, but you can sense that a certain individual is using the party for his or her business interests.

Many candidates for regional leaders have to pay to get support from the party. I told all members to stop this. We should end this for good. That can only be achieved if I spend my time here on a daily basis to manage the party. I'€™ve already felt that there are always new problems. I will also do a tour to the regional level to raise member morale that has been low because of the problem.

There has been a [communication] gap between the party'€™s central board and those at the regional level. There should be more dialogue.

Another change that we want to apply is a limitation on the leadership term in the central board and in the branches. Five years will be enough for party leaders.

The selection of candidates for the leadership should also be fair. Performance and the size of his or her vote will be the benchmarks.

There will be many new things in store for the party going forward. I don'€™t want to leave a legacy that only hinges on pragmatism.

How will you consolidate power, particularly over a plan to recall legislators of the rival camp for refusing to jump ship?

We'€™re just following the existing regulations. I will not discharge anyone. That will not be part of the culture that I will build. I am a victim of dismissal too, you know. What I will do is have rotations in the House of Representatives. That is obvious, as we'€™ve been using such a mechanism every year. I'€™ve been a legislator for 22 years and every year I always experience rotations in order for me to fully understand the nation'€™s problems.

Will there still be room for reconciliation with Aburizal?

I'€™ve sent a letter to him as I'€™ve been mandated by the party tribunal to include his supporters, but the response was so late and he eventually rejected my proposal. He told me to wait for a court decision. But despite the rejection, there have been many party officials from the rival camp that have called me and expressed their willingness to join.

How do you select them to include them in your camp?


We should see their performance, dedication and loyalty. We will not accept those who like to jump around and change sides. Those implicated in legal issues will not be accepted either, as well as die-hard supporters of Aburizal.

You recently met with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. What kind of deal did you forge?

We'€™ve talked about how we can cooperate in upcoming regional elections. For example, candidates for regents can be from Golkar, while the deputies can be from the PDI-P, or vice-versa. That'€™s how the cooperation will work.

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