JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Taufik Hidayat, former athlete and Indonesian badminton star, joins Barisan Indonesia (Barindo), a mass organization led by Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan.
Barindo is also affiliated to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Democratic Party.
Taufik’s participation on Barindo will not surprise the public as Gita is also Chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).
Taufik is son-in-law of General (ret) Agum Gumelar, former Minister of Transportation and former Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs under Abdurrahman Wahid administration.
Barindo was established by former generals who supported and helped SBY to win second term of presidential election in 2009.
Now, Barindo backs Gita Wirjawan to win the Democratic Party’s primary, a convention conducted by the Democratic Party to choose its presidential candidate for next year’s presidential race.
Pretty much similar with other contestants, Gita has intensified public appearance, including through advertisement billboards in some cities, and collecting more supporters.
But some have warned about the potential abuse of power as well as potential violations on existing campaign laws and regulations that might be committed by Gita and other Democratic Party’s primary contestants who currently holding public positions. Others even suggest them dismiss from offices. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)