Ismail seeks nomination for vice president<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the 1998 presidential election likely to be
\nanother one-horse race, competition for the vice-presidency is
\nhotting up with the chairman of the United Development Party
\n(PPP), Ismail Hasan Metareum, looking for a nomination.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Moslem-oriented party said yesterday he
\nwould consider standing for vice president.<\/p>\n
\"I will consider joining the vice-presidential race if the PPP
\ncentral board makes such a decision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
After addressing PPP supporters in Bekasi, some 30 kilometers
\neast of here, Ismail said the PPP central board was gathering
\ninformation on the aspirations of its members on the candidacy.<\/p>\n
\"The PPP central board will make a decision after the PPP
\nbranches and chapters have sent all their input,\" Ismail,
\npopularly known as Buya, said.<\/p>\n
He said a vice president should be capable and acceptable
\nto all of society.<\/p>\n
\"The candidate for vice president should also be able to
\ncooperate with the elected president,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But one of President Soeharto's political and security
\nadvisors, Bambang Triantoro, said yesterday the Soeharto-Try
\nSutrisno combination should be extended until 2003.<\/p>\n
\"Soeharto and Try Sutrisno match each other. They have similar
\nthoughts and ideas,\" Bambang, a member of the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil, said.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that only Try would be capable of holding the
\nposition for a second term. No other Indonesian vice president
\nhas been reelected.<\/p>\n
Bambang said Try was acceptable to all of society.<\/p>\n
\"Try Sutrisno always welcomes other people's opinions and is
\nwilling to accept criticism for improvement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But Bambang refused to comment on Try's chances of being
\nnominated for president, saying it would only harm him and Try.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that discussion and lobbying for the vice-
\npresidency should begin.<\/p>\n
Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday that discourse
\non candidates for vice president should only occur after a new
\nlineup of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) had been sworn
\nin.<\/p>\n
\"Discourse on the presidency and vice-presidency should be
\ndiscussed in a formal MPR forum,\" he said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-strong MPR will be sworn in October. Its members
\nwill meet in March next year to elect a president and a vice
\npresident and establish five-yearly state guidelines.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, the chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Moslem organization, had his own candidate for vice-
\npresident.<\/p>\n
\"The vice-presidential post is fit for Moerdiono,\" he said.
\nMoerdiono is the minister\/state secretary.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said, \"Moerdiono is always loyal to his friends.\"
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ismail-seeks-nomination-for-vice-president-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}