PKB bides time as Abdurrahman undergoes surgery<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) is awaiting
\nthe recovery of its patron, Abdurrahman Wahid, now undergoing
\ntreatment for his ailing eyes in the United States, before
\nformally naming him its presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
When asked on Friday about the party's presidential candidate
\nnominations, secretary-general Iskandar Muhaimin said: \"If
\nthere's a miracle from the United States, namely that Gus Dur's
\neye surgery is successful... then the official announcement of
\npresidential candidate could happen before the elections.\"
\nAbdurrahman is also known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
\"But if the operation fails, we will announce our candidate
\nafter the elections,\" he said after a meeting at the General
\nElections Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, chairman of the country's largest Muslim
\norganization, Nahdlatul Ulama, is widely understood to be the
\nfavorite candidate of the party. He left on Sunday for eye
\ntreatment in Salt Lake City, Utah.<\/p>\n
Iskandar expressed hopes Abdurrahman would get well. The
\nprominent Muslim scholar has had problems with his eyesight for
\nyears, admitting to his aides that things look \"blurred\" to him.<\/p>\n
He once told a foreign magazine that if he regained his
\neyesight, he would run for president. And continued, \"If I run, I
\nwin.\"<\/p>\n
\"The doctors had not given us too much hope (of recovery). But
\nconsidering that he was once knocked down by a stroke but later
\namazingly recovered... we may wish for this kind of miracle to
\nhappen to his eyes, too,\" Iskander said.<\/p>\n
He explained that Abdurrahman is physically healthy. \"He has
\nhigh mobility and travels across the country a lot more than I
\ndo.\"<\/p>\n
On Friday, the party also submitted its list of legislative
\ncandidates to the National Elections Committee (PPI).<\/p>\n
Among the prospective legislators are ulema Nur Muhammad
\nIskandar and popular singer Hetty Koes Endang who will run in
\nJakarta, PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil in Tegal, Central Java,
\nand Mustofa Bisri in Badung, Bali.<\/p>\n
\"I myself will run in Sidoarjo, East Java, while it is not
\nlikely that (Abdurrahman) will run for a legislative seat,\"
\nIskandar added.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Golkar Party leader Rully Chairul
\nAzwar said Friday the party will hold its plenary meeting next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"After that we will hold the leadership meeting and decide on
\nour final presidential candidate. So far the President (B.J.
\nHabibie) is the strongest contender,\" Rully said on the sidelines
\nof the KPU meeting.<\/p>\n
Golkar leaders have been at odds over the party's candidates
\nfor president. Akbar Tandjung also believes Habibie is the
\nparty's strongest candidate. Another influential leader, Marzuki
\nDarusman, however, named Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen.
\nWiranto as the person most likely to emerge as the strongest
\npossibility.<\/p>\n
Antara, however, reported from Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi
\nthat the leadership meeting of all chapters of the Indonesian
\nIndependence Vanguard Party (IPKI) concluded by nominating
\nHabibie its presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
The head of the party's presidium, Andi Sose, told reporters
\nafter the meeting his party supported all measures taken by the
\ngovernment, and all related institutions in society, to make the
\nJune 7 general election a success. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pkb-bides-time-as-abdurrahman-undergoes-surgery-1447893297",
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