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Former chairman calls for Golkar solidarity
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Upbeat -- Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (right) talks to journalists, accompanied by the party's advisory board chief Aburizal Bakrie (left) and honorary board chief BJ Habibie (center), during the opening of Golkar's national leaders meeting (rapimnas) in Jakarta in July last year. (Antara Foto/M Agung Rajasa)
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mid growing rumors of another internal split, former Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie has called on all party members to maintain solidarity and not to deceive their own friends.
“Let's unite our power and perception to reach the party's goal. Don't speculate too much. Don't cut inside the fold,” Aburizal said, citing a proverb that referred to someone who likes to deceive his or her own friends.
The senior Golkar politician made the statements during the party’s national leadership meeting (rapimnas) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Monday.
Aburizal responded to a rumor about renewed internal strife in the party, in which a group of senior politicians reportedly wanted to oust chairman Setya Novanto while another camp wanted to defend Setya, who now serves as the House of Representatives speaker.
The rumor has grown stronger since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed Setya's alleged involvement in the e-ID graft case, a huge scandal that had pinched the party's electability.
Aburizal is known to have taken different stances from Setya in several decisions. He objected when Setya was about to declare support for the then incumbent candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
Golkar politician Ahmad Doli Kurnia said Setya looked like a bus driver who drove recklessly. It was better to replace such a driver than letting the bus to crash, he said.
"This meeting is very strategic. We must draft a strategy so Golkar can achieve its victory [in the 2018 regional elections and 2019 legislative and presidential elections]," Aburizal said. (dis/ebf)
