Axis force mulls coalition with Golkar Party

Axis force mulls coalition with Golkar Party

JAKARTA (JP): The alliance of the Muslim-based parties widely
known as the "axis force" opens up the possibility of a coalition
with the Golkar Party, said an axis force figure Hamzah Haz.

Speaking on the sidelines of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) session on Sunday, Hamzah said efforts should be
made to promote common interests between the two political
groupings.

"I think the new Golkar, which claims to have reformist
ideals, should think of establishing a coalition with the axis
force," said Hamzah, who chairs the United Development Party
(PPP).

He was commenting on reports that Golkar had hinted its
approval to support PPP's nominee for the MPR chairmanship.

The axis force groups together eight parties which claim to
represent Muslim interests and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
They have 125 House of Representative seats which will enable
them to play a decisive role, particularly in the race for the
presidency.

The force suggested last week that Golkar's presidential
candidate incumbent, B.J. Habibie, give up his candidacy for the
good of the nation. Responding to the call, Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung said his party would take it into account.

Golkar deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf would not confirm
the party's acceptance of the axis force's coalition offer, but
said, "We are seeking to cooperate with any party, not only with
the axis force."

Slamet said Golkar had intensively lobbied all parties since
the MPR General Session started on Friday.

He said the vote on the composition of MPR factions on
Saturday, which saw Golkar and the axis force team up to win by
379 votes, was a result of lobbying between Golkar and other
parties.

"It tuned out that our efforts bore fruit last night. It's not
easy to harmonize different views, you know," Slamet said.

He denied that Golkar legislators had been asked to vote for
the axis forces' MPR chairman candidate, but indicated that
Golkar would not go all out for the MPR chairmanship.

"We propose our candidate for the MPR leadership," he said.

The MPR leadership will consist of a chairman and seven
deputies.

When asked if the lobbies would continue to win Golkar's bid
for presidency, Slamet said it would much depend on how the
situation developed.

Another axis force figure, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who also
chairs the Crescent Star Party, said the alliance had become so
strong that other political groupings should take it into
consideration.

"The axis force has emerged as a result of political skills to
combine different parties to reach a common goal. It will become
a crucial group," he said.

Gus Dur

Separately, PAN chairman Amien Rais denied that the axis force
had dropped its nomination of Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid,
who is also the founder of National Awakening Party (PKB), for
presidency.

"Instead, we are considering how to lure 51 PKB members to
join us. If this happens, our strength will become even greater,"
Amien said.

He said he expected that the PKB will break its partnership
with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan). PKB has announced it would support the presidential
bid of PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The Axis force will be in trouble if PKB maintains its
nomination of Megawati. We will become a bemo (three-wheeled
taxi), instead of a sedan, if PKB insists on supporting
Megawati," Amien said.

Amien said he had invited PKB top brass for a talk on a
possible coalition with the axis force.

He expressed his optimism that the axis force would emerge the
winner in the race for presidency, barring any foul play.

"As a newcomer, I can sense the foul play but cannot see it. I
think I have to learn about how to deal with it as quickly as
possible," he said.

Meanwhile, Abdurrahman, widely known as Gus Dur, told
reporters after attending an internal meeting held by the
interest group faction that he hadn't asked any party to nominate
him for presidency.

"My candidacy is not my business, because I have never intend
to seek any position," the chairman of the country's largest
Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama said as quoted by Antara.
(emf/amd)