Aa Gym invites Susilo, Nurwahid

JAKARTA: Popular Muslim preacher Abdullah "Aa Gym" Gymnastiar invited founder and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Hidayat Nurwahid to his sermon at Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Sunday.

Gymnastiar quickly denied that his sermon themed: "The Beauty of Togetherness" had political overtones.

"It's a routine thing. I invited Pak Nurwahid and Pak SBY through telephone and SMS (short message service). Thankfully they are coming," he told reporters.

The invitation came as speculation grew that Susilo and Nurwahid were intensifying communication with each other ahead of the presidential election.

PKS and Democratic Party look certain to dominate the Jakarta legislature and are now placed sixth and fifth respectively in the national vote tabulation following the April 5 general election.

A recent survey concluded that the success of the two parties in the election reflected people's desire for change. --Antara