As the Golkar Party struggles with the low electability ratings of its presidential candidate, Aburizal Bakrie, problems continue to pile up for the party following the arrest of three of its members, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana the brother of Banten Governor and party treasurer Ratu Atut Chosiyah, lawmaker Chairun Nisa and former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar on graft allegations.
The arrest of Akil and Chairun by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators and the imposition of a travel ban on Ratu Atut occurred only months before Golkar contests the 2014 legislative election.
On Wednesday, Golkar's central board decided to push back the date of a national leadership meeting,in which it was supposed to consolidate the party for the 2014 election, to Nov. 10 from earlier this month.
Speculation is rife that the recent arrests have prompted Golkar to recalibrate its strategy for the 2014 election.
Member of the party's central board, Ade Komarrudin, said the graft allegations against some members of the party would further harm the party's image ahead of the 2014 general election.
"They [graft allegations involving party members] will of course affect the good name of the party. But, we are working on solutions to minimize the impact on the party," said Ade, a lawmaker from the House of Representatives' Commission XI overseeing finance on Wednesday.
The KPK last week arrested Akil for allegedly accepting bribe money from Chairun, who served as an intermediary in a scheme to sway the result of a local election dispute currently being handled by the Constitutional Court.
The KPK has also slapped a travel ban on Atut, who will also undergo questioning for her possible role in rigging an election dispute trial at the court.
Ade, however, maintained that the latest graft allegations against its high-profile members would not compromise the party's strategies for the 2014 election.
Ade said what the party members were being accused of were personal in nature and had nothing to do with the party.
"It's more about family rather than about the party," Ade said.
On Wednesday, Aburizal made an attempt to distance the party from its graft-implicated members.
Speaking after a Golkar leadership meeting on Wednesday, Aburizal denied that Golkar had enabled Atut's scheme to build a political dynasty in Banten.
"They were voted into office based on existing regulations," Aburizal said.
Aburizal said that members of Atut's clan had gone through proper procedures. "Golkar always takes into account peoples' preferences through surveys," he told reporters.
Aburizal also said that Chairun's arrest would not affect Golkar's performance in the election.
"God willing, people will see this as her personal problem," he said.
The Golkar leadership has yet to make a decision on whether it will drop Chairun from its list of legislative candidates representing the Palangkaraya electoral district in Central Kalimantan.
Aburizal praised Chairun, saying that she was one of the best members of the party.
Meanwhile, political analyst Yunarto Wijaya from Jakarta-based think tank Charta Politica said that Golkar would remain focused on shoring up support for Aburizal for the 2014 election instead of carrying out efforts to root out corruption within the party.
"They will deal with friction within the party. Golkar will not waste its energy on dealing with the problem. The party is experienced in dealing with it [graft cases}," Yunarto said.
Other Golkar members who have been investigated by the antigraft body in a number of graft cases include Setya Novanto from House Commission III overseeing legal affairs and Kahar Muzakir from the House's Commission X overseeing sports and youth affairs.
Both were implicated in the bribery case surrounding the National Games (PON) in Riau.
Earlier this year, the Jakarta Graft Court sentenced Golkar politician Zulkarnaen Djabar to 15 years in prison for his role in a Koran procurement scandal.
Golkar's bad apples
Akil Mochtar
Former Constitutional Court chief justice. Implicated in bribery case in two local elections in Gunung Mas regency and Lebak regency.
Zulkarnaen Djabar
Member of House of Representatives' Commission VIII overseeing religion. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with a Koran graft scandal.
Chairun Nisa
Member of the House of Representatives' Commission II overseeing regional autonomy. Implicated in bribery case in the Gunung Mas local election.
Setya Novanto
Golkar Party treasurer. Implicated in the National Games (PON) bribery scandal.
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