Golkar, PDI-P battle for heart, mind of Hasyim
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Surabaya
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and its arch rival, the Golkar Party are beefing up efforts to woo support from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) -- and its 40 million followers -- in their bid to win the presidential election.
Senior PDI-P members Sabam Sirait and Soetardjo Soerjoguritno visited former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid on Tuesday to ask for his approval of the party's nomination of NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi as the running mate of PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the President.
Golkar presidential candidate Wiranto had earlier in the day met with Gus Dur at Juanda airport in Surabaya for the same purpose. Wiranto was heading for the NU ulemas gathering at Somerset Hotel in the East Java capital, where he would later speak.
Wiranto and Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung are scheduled to hold separate meetings with Gus Dur and Hasyim in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Gus Dur, who is a former NU chairman and cofounder of the National Awakening Party (PKB), was not invited to the NU meeting, which finished up on Tuesday evening. Another prominent presidential candidate, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from the Democratic Party spoke as well, while presidential candidate from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien Rais was not in attendance.
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said the party had narrowed down its choices to Hasyim and United Development Party (PPP) leader Hamzah Haz, who is also the Vice President.
"The two stand an equal chance of becoming Megawati's running mate. She will select one of them herself and will announce it on May 1 or May 2," Pramono said.
He said as a nationalist-oriented party, PDI-P needed a Muslim leader with a lot of grassroots support, like Hasyim, while Hamzah had proven that he could work with Megawati over the past three years.
Megawati had held a meeting with the NU clerics, including Hasyim, in Surabaya after she opened the gathering on Monday.
Golkar has also said there was a possibility of joining forces with PKB and NU to win the July 5 presidential election. Both Wiranto and Akbar agreed on Monday to pick any running mate endorsed by Gus Dur.
Later on Tuesday Gus Dur sprang a surprise that might foil any moves to court Hasyim.
"I have repeatedly said that I've never endorsed Pak Hasyim to contest any positions (president or vice president). He is a big liar if he said I supported him after we met in Sukabumi recently," Gus Dur announced during a press conference after speaking with representatives from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the private human rights group Imparsial.
Gus Dur met Hasyim in the West Java town on Saturday, and it was seen at the time as a sign of reconciliation between the two.
The PKB cofounder also stated that he declined to endorse prospective running mates proposed by Wiranto when they met in Surabaya earlier in the day.
"No decision can be made yet, pending the outcome of a judicial review we filed with the Supreme Court against a KPU regulation on medical checks," Gus Dur said, referring to the General Elections Commission ruling that requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to undergo health examinations, including an eye test. Gus Dur's vision is said to be less than stellar.
Gus Dur also promised to the rights groups that he would not build a coalition with presidential candidates from military background, in an obvious reference to retired generals Wiranto and Susilo. Related photo on Page 2