Activists step up bid for Emil's VP candidacy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Activists from a coalition of non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs) maintained the momentum yesterday to
\nnominate former cabinet minister Emil Salim for the vice
\npresidency, despite some people's belief his campaign does not
\nhave even the slightest chance of success.<\/p>\n
The activists took their motion to executives of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction at the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, along with 3,000 letters from people who
\nhad pledged their support for Emil's nomination.<\/p>\n
Included in the list of supporters were R. Karlina
\nWirahadikusumah, wife of former Vice President Umar
\nWirahadikusumah, renowned movie actress Marissa Haque and 26
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
Karlina joins fellow former second lady Nelly Adam Malik in
\nseeking the nomination of Emil, a senior economist who helped
\nPresident Soeharto launch development programs in the early
\nstages of the New Order administration in the mid-1960s.<\/p>\n
Group spokesman Agus Purnomo told the PDI executives that the
\nNGOs' campaign would go on despite the fact that all of the five
\nAssembly factions had already named State Minister of Research
\nand Technology B.J. Habibie as their lone candidate for the
\ncountry's second highest post.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to make use of the little time left before the
\ngeneral session of the Assembly opens next month. There is always
\nan opportunity, no matter how slim it is,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
It was the second visit of the group to an Assembly faction
\nafter it met with the Regional Representatives on Monday. Agus
\nsaid meetings with the United Development Party faction and the
\nArmed Forces faction had been arranged.<\/p>\n
Agus said the group's reasons for throwing its full weight
\nbehind Emil were that the former minister was known for his clean
\nrecord and piety.<\/p>\n
\"We consider him the most deserving man to hold the second top
\npost in the wake of the economic woes,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
He said Emil would meet with an East Javanese ulema and other
\nreligious leaders who wished to announce their support for his
\ncandidacy bid in Surabaya today.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the PDI's Assembly faction, Buttu Hutapea,
\nsaid in response to the motion that he would discuss the bid with
\nhis team.<\/p>\n
\"It's our responsibility to heed any aspirations from the
\npeople, even though we've already nominated B.J. Habibie for the
\nvice presidency,\" Buttu said.<\/p>\n
Separately, another group calling itself the Brotherhood of
\nNusantara Youths wrote Golkar yesterday, calling on the dominant
\nfaction to consider Emil's nomination.<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by its coordinator, R. Benu Hidayat, the
\nyouth organization said Emil fitted the bill for the vice
\npresidential post, thanks to his leadership skills, moral stature
\nand religious devotion.<\/p>\n
\"Now that the nation is facing an economic crisis, its
\npresident will need a partner with a broad vision, one who
\nmasters economics, so the duo can lead the nation in coping with
\nthe crisis,\" the statement said. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-step-up-bid-for-emils-vp-candidacy-1447893297",
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