Cak Nur picks up registration form amid pullout report<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Noted scholar Nurcholish Madjid picked up the registration form
\nfrom Golkar on Wednesday amid reports that he was pulling out of
\nthe ongoing convention to choose the party's poll bearer in the
\n2004 elections.<\/p>\n
"I have given the authority to Sudirman Said to take the
\nform," Nurcholish, popularly known as Cak Nur, told reporters on
\nWednesday, referring to his campaign assistant.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that he had taken the form, Cak Nur evaded
\nquestions as to whether or not he would contest the post.<\/p>\n
"(I) can still choose whether or not to submit the form," said
\nCak Nur.<\/p>\n
Press reports said earlier that Cak Nur was seriously
\nconsidering backing out as Golkar's presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Asked whether his wait-and-see stance was related to the
\npossible participation of Akbar Tandjung, who chairs the party,
\nin the convention, Cak Nur answered, "sort of."<\/p>\n
He repeatedly said that "the management of a party is not
\nsupposed to join the convention".<\/p>\n
Golkar decided to conduct the convention in a bid to select
\nits sole presidential candidate to compete in the country's first
\ndirect presidential election in June 2004. The convention, which
\nwill run in stages before naming the sole candidate, requires all
\ncandidates to take the registration forms by August 7.<\/p>\n
Several groups in Golkar have voiced support for Akbar, a
\ngraft convict, to join the convention. Golkar's convention
\nregulation allows party executives to participate as candidates.<\/p>\n
Akbar himself has not declared whether he will join the
\nconvention or not, pending the Supreme Court's verdict on his
\ngraft case. He has been convicted to three years in prison.<\/p>\n
Among other prospective candidates, political observers say
\nAkbar has the biggest chance of winning the convention if he
\ndecides to join as he enjoys strong support within the party.<\/p>\n
J. Kristiadi from the CSIS and Eep Syaifullah Fatah of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia suggested that Cak Nur withdraw, saying
\nGolkar staged the convention in a bid to achieve its political
\ngoals, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
"With or without Cak Nur, Akbar has every chance of winning
\nthe convention because of the support within the Golkar Party,"
\nEep said.<\/p>\n
As an independent candidate, Cak Nur must compete with 12
\nother prospective figures who have been nominated by national
\norganizations to take part in the convention.<\/p>\n
Among them are Akbar, former military chief Gen. (ret)
\nWiranto, People Consultative Assembly deputy chairman Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita, Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar,
\nCoordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla,
\nYogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, media tycoon Surya
\nPaloh, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto and businessman
\nAburizal Bakri.<\/p>",
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