PKS throws weight behind Amien<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman
\nand Tiarma Siboro
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Presidential candidate Amien Rais and his running mate Siswono
\nYudohusodo won the endorsement of the Muslim-based Prosperous
\nJustice Party (PKS) on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen
\nwhether this support will improve their chances in the July 5
\nelection.<\/p>\n
PKS leader Hidayat Nurwahid said that among all of the
\ncandidates contesting the country's first ever direct
\npresidential election, only Amien could be counted on to
\neradicate corruption and improve law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\"The pair, especially Pak Amien, also meet the criteria of not
\nbeing power-thirsty, of being committed to the country's unity
\nand the empowerment of the poor,\" Hidayat said.<\/p>\n
The other presidential and vice presidential pairs contesting
\nthe upcoming election are Wiranto-Salahuddin Wahid, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla
\nand Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar.<\/p>\n
The decision to back Amien puts an end to speculation that the
\nPKS would throw its weight behind Wiranto of the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
The PKS earned about 8.3 million votes in the April 5
\nlegislative election, while Amien's National Mandate Party (PAN)
\ngrabbed some 6.5 million votes. The PKS and PAN are currently
\nworking together to form a faction in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said no backroom dealing was involved in the party's
\ndecision to back Amien. \"We must tell you that we did not want to
\nreceive seats in the Cabinet or anything.\"<\/p>\n
Rahmat Abdullah, the chairman of the party's law-making body,
\nMajelis Syuro, told The Jakarta Post the decision was made on
\nTuesday night during an amicable meeting. \"There were no heated
\nmoments.\"<\/p>\n
The endorsement was made after 70 percent of the 44-strong
\nMajelis Syuro gave their endorsement to Amien.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said most of the remaining members of the law-making
\nbody backed Wiranto. \"However, a small number gave their support
\nto the Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar ticket of the United Development
\nParty (PPP).\"<\/p>\n
PKS secretary-general Anis Matta, who had been a staunch
\nsupporter of Wiranto and led a faction in the party that favored
\nthe Golkar Party candidate, said he welcomed the decision.<\/p>\n
\"We do not have to feel guilty because we failed to endorse
\nWiranto. And this also proves that an allegation that we were
\ncontrolled by Wiranto and his money is not true,\" Anis said.<\/p>\n
Noted scholar Muslim Abdurrahman doubted this move would
\nimprove Amien's chances in the election, saying it could even
\ncost the candidate.<\/p>\n
\"I am afraid the PKS' support could prompt nationalists and
\nsecular people who have been supporting Amien during the campaign
\nto withdraw their support,\" Muslim told the Post.<\/p>\n
He also doubted that all of the PKS' supporters would vote for
\nAmien on July 5.<\/p>\n
\"At the most 50 percent of PKS supporters will vote for
\nAmien,\" said Muslim, adding that the endorsement came too late.<\/p>\n
\"During the one-month campaign, only 13 parties with
\nnationalist platforms backed Amien,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia, however, said the
\nendorsement would increase Amien's chances because the PKS had a
\nsolid political machinery.<\/p>\n
\"I think the endorsement is solid since it was taken after a
\nseries of internal debates among the PKS leaders, who had
\ninitially wanted to support different presidential and vice
\npresidential candidates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A member of Amien's campaign team, Din Syamsudin, said that by
\nendorsing Amien the PKS had stayed true to its original party
\nidentity.<\/p>\n
\"This is the right decision and highlights the PKS' identity
\nas a Muslim-based party that chooses to back candidates who will
\nstrive for its members' interests,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pks-throws-weight-behind-amien-1447893297",
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