TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Functional Group (Golkar) Party chairman Jusuf Kalla suggested the party to hold a national congress following an allegation of current Golkar chairman Setya Novanto's involvement in a graft case surrounding the procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP).

"Golkar is not in a favorable condition, due to the imposition of a travel ban on the [Golkar] chairman. If there's further development, the party must have a good leader," Kalla said at the Vice Presidential Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.

Kalla revealed that Golkar has a procedure to handle the current situation, including appointing an acting chairman to run chairman's tasks. Another way, Kalla added, is holding an extraordinary national congress or a national congress.

If the party opts to hold an extraordinary national congress, the elected chairman's service will last for the remaining term, which is two years.

"Therefore, a national congress may be appropriate. However, Golkar will decide the timing," Kalla explained.

Golkar politician Yorrys Raweyai said that his party has initiated an internal consolidation related to Setya's involvement in the e-KTP scandal. According to Yorrys, the executive board must save the party in case of prosecutions against any of its members.

"The party must be saved. We're making efforts to do that," Yorrys said during a discussion held in Jakarta on Monday, April 24, 2017.

AMIRULLAH SUHADA