Golkar Rotates Three Parliamentary Members

Jakarta (Antara) - Golkar Party, the runner up in the last legislative elections, has rotated three of its parliament members, following rumors they are supporting the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla presidential pair. "That is true. The central executive board of the Golkar Party has rotated three members of its factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) starting today," Golkar's faction chairman Setya Novanto said here on Monday. Novanto, however, said the rotation was an evaluation and will help improve the faction's performance. It happened that the decision was made before the implementation of the presidential election and after several party cadres conveyed their political views, which were different from the party's policy. "The rumors are just a coincidence," he added. The three Golkar parliamentary members who were rotated are Agus Gumiwang, who was moved from the deputy chairmanship of House Commission I to a mere member of House commission VIII. His position in the Commission I will be taken by Tantowi Yahya. The others are Nusron Wahid, who was moved as a member of House Commission XI to Commission VIII and Poempida Hidayattulah from Commission IX to Commission VIII. Another Golkar parliament member, Adi Sukemi, meanwhile, remained in the House Commission V, but his membership in the Budget Committee was handed over to Gandung Pardiman. (*) Reporting by Riza Harahap