Axis force mulls coalition with Golkar Party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The alliance of the Muslim-based parties widely
\nknown as the \"axis force\" opens up the possibility of a coalition
\nwith the Golkar Party, said an axis force figure Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the sidelines of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) session on Sunday, Hamzah said efforts should be
\nmade to promote common interests between the two political
\ngroupings.<\/p>\n
\"I think the new Golkar, which claims to have reformist
\nideals, should think of establishing a coalition with the axis
\nforce,\" said Hamzah, who chairs the United Development Party
\n(PPP).<\/p>\n
He was commenting on reports that Golkar had hinted its
\napproval to support PPP's nominee for the MPR chairmanship.<\/p>\n
The axis force groups together eight parties which claim to
\nrepresent Muslim interests and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
\nThey have 125 House of Representative seats which will enable
\nthem to play a decisive role, particularly in the race for the
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
The force suggested last week that Golkar's presidential
\ncandidate incumbent, B.J. Habibie, give up his candidacy for the
\ngood of the nation. Responding to the call, Golkar chairman Akbar
\nTandjung said his party would take it into account.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf would not confirm
\nthe party's acceptance of the axis force's coalition offer, but
\nsaid, \"We are seeking to cooperate with any party, not only with
\nthe axis force.\"<\/p>\n
Slamet said Golkar had intensively lobbied all parties since
\nthe MPR General Session started on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said the vote on the composition of MPR factions on
\nSaturday, which saw Golkar and the axis force team up to win by
\n379 votes, was a result of lobbying between Golkar and other
\nparties.<\/p>\n
\"It tuned out that our efforts bore fruit last night. It's not
\neasy to harmonize different views, you know,\" Slamet said.<\/p>\n
He denied that Golkar legislators had been asked to vote for
\nthe axis forces' MPR chairman candidate, but indicated that
\nGolkar would not go all out for the MPR chairmanship.<\/p>\n
\"We propose our candidate for the MPR leadership,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The MPR leadership will consist of a chairman and seven
\ndeputies.<\/p>\n
When asked if the lobbies would continue to win Golkar's bid
\nfor presidency, Slamet said it would much depend on how the
\nsituation developed.<\/p>\n
Another axis force figure, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who also
\nchairs the Crescent Star Party, said the alliance had become so
\nstrong that other political groupings should take it into
\nconsideration.<\/p>\n
\"The axis force has emerged as a result of political skills to
\ncombine different parties to reach a common goal. It will become
\na crucial group,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur<\/p>\n
Separately, PAN chairman Amien Rais denied that the axis force
\nhad dropped its nomination of Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nwho is also the founder of National Awakening Party (PKB), for
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
\"Instead, we are considering how to lure 51 PKB members to
\njoin us. If this happens, our strength will become even greater,\"
\nAmien said.<\/p>\n
He said he expected that the PKB will break its partnership
\nwith the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan). PKB has announced it would support the presidential
\nbid of PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"The Axis force will be in trouble if PKB maintains its
\nnomination of Megawati. We will become a bemo (three-wheeled
\ntaxi), instead of a sedan, if PKB insists on supporting
\nMegawati,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
Amien said he had invited PKB top brass for a talk on a
\npossible coalition with the axis force.<\/p>\n
He expressed his optimism that the axis force would emerge the
\nwinner in the race for presidency, barring any foul play.<\/p>\n
\"As a newcomer, I can sense the foul play but cannot see it. I
\nthink I have to learn about how to deal with it as quickly as
\npossible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Abdurrahman, widely known as Gus Dur, told
\nreporters after attending an internal meeting held by the
\ninterest group faction that he hadn't asked any party to nominate
\nhim for presidency.<\/p>\n
\"My candidacy is not my business, because I have never intend
\nto seek any position,\" the chairman of the country's largest
\nMuslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama said as quoted by Antara.
\n(emf\/amd)<\/p>",
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