HARD FOR GOLKAR TO BECOME OPPOSITION PARTY

Gorontalo, Aug 5 (ANTARA) - It is hard for Golkar to be an opposition party, the party's Gorontalo regional executive board (DPD) chairman Fadel Muhamad said Wednesday.

"It is very difficult for Golkar to become an opposition party for the next five years because many of its cadres at present are serving as government officials at provincial, district, and municipal levels," Fadel Muhamad said.

However, the Gorontalo governor added, the decision to become either an opposition party or government-supporting party would be made in the upcoming Golkar national conference to elect a new chairman.

Fadel said the new Golkar chairman for the next five-year period would determine the position of the party.

"But I personally want the party to remain in the government," Fadel said, adding that in its history, Golkar had never been an opposition party
Meanwhile, Golkar advisory board member Aburizal Bakrie said recently the party had yet to decide what position it would adopt : join the government in alliance with the Democratic Party or serve as an opposition party.

Although Golkar was preparing some its cadres for possible induction into the new administration, the party was still undecided whether it would join the government and the Democratic Party-led coalition or become an opposition party.

Aburizal said the the party could well accept positions in the cabinet but still remain ready to criticize the government.

"Golkar has its own opinion. It can support the government policy but can at times also criticize the government and evaluate its policies," Aburizal said.

But he added the party's best cadres would possibly be proposed to assume positions in the new cabinet.

"It depends on the cadres. It is good if they are selected based on their capabilities but as for myself I don't want to be in the government any more," said Aburizal who is currently coordinating minister for the people's welfare in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's United Indonesia cabinet.