Muslim-based parties mull forging of coalition<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two Muslim-based political parties are toying with the idea of
\npairing up for the presidential election, a move that could
\nfurther narrow down the running mate choices for Golkar's
\npresidential candidate Wiranto, says a party leader.<\/p>\n
Thursday's meeting between the National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nand the United Development Party (PPP) may well spur on other
\nMuslim-based parties to join the fledgling coalition, says PKB
\ndeputy leader Mahfud M.D.<\/p>\n
\"We held a meeting to seek an alternative candidate pairing
\nand expect such a move will crystallize in the next two or three
\ndays,\" Mahfud said after a meeting held at a residence of PPP
\nparty leader Hamzah Haz, the incumbent vice president in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The meeting came just a week before the deadline for political
\nparties to register their presidential and vice presidential
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
\"Principally, we are still fighting for the political rights
\nof Abdurrahman Wahid, but we have also discussed other
\npossibilities, including whether or not to propose a candidate in
\nthe upcoming election,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"A Hamzah Haz-Solahuddin pairing is among the alternatives,\"
\nMahfud said referring to the younger brother of former president
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid. The coalition, he said, might oppose
\nthe whole process and not field any candidates.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin, also a deputy chairman of the National Commission
\non Human Rights (Komnas HAM), was earlier asked by Golkar to run
\nwith Gen. (ret) Wiranto, after Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
\nsnubbed Wiranto for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI-P). Most PKB members are linked to the NU, but Hasyim is not
\ndirectly affiliated with any party.<\/p>\n
Seven parties, including Golkar, PDI-P, the Democratic Party,
\nPAN and PKS are eligible to nominate candidates in the
\npresidential election but other parties that won less than 16
\nseats in the House in the April 5 legislative election can make a
\ncoalition to nominate a candidate.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said he believed more parties, such as the Prosperous
\nJustice Party (PKS) and Reform Star Party (PBR), would sign on
\nwith the PPP-PKB coalition.<\/p>\n
The nearly blind Gus Dur may be declared ineligible to run
\nsince the General Elections Commission (KPU) has issued a decree
\nfor passing a comprehensive health exam, including an eye exam.<\/p>\n
PKB and Gus Dur filed a complaint with the Supreme Court for a
\njudicial review of the controversial decree.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz promised Thursday to publicly disclose the PKB-PPP
\npairing of choice soon after the Supreme Court reviewed the
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin or \"Gus Solah\" as he is popularly known said it
\nmight not be wise to accept Wiranto's offer.<\/p>\n
\"I received many \"sms\" (short message services) questions as
\nto why I was considering Wiranto. Some even lodged their
\nprotests. At present, I don't have any answer on whether or not I
\nwill run in the election, pending a more firm decision from PKB,\"
\nGus Solah said.<\/p>\n
He added that those at the meeting agreed that the pairing
\nshould comprise people with strong character and integrity and
\nthey should not necessarily come from the military.<\/p>\n
\"Civilians also have integrity and a strong character,\" Gus
\nSolah said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto has been indicted by a UN-sponsored court in Dili on
\ncharges of human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999, but it is
\nunlikely he will be extradited to face trial there.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-based-parties-mull-forging-of-coalition-1447893297",
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