Muhammadiyah youth drops polls bid

Muhammadiyah youth drops polls bid

JAKARTA: Muhammadiyah Youth leader Abdul Mu'ti announced on
Friday his resignation as a legislative candidate representing
the National Mandate Party (PAN), saying he preferred to remain
independent.

Mu'ti, who topped the list of PAN legislative candidates in
Cilacap and Banyumas electoral district in Central Java, said he
would keep the organization he leads at a distance from any
political party.

He said he had informed PAN chairman Amien Rais about his
resignation before the party submitted its legislative candidates
to the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Dec. 9, 2003.

Other reasons for his refusal to contest the election were his
unpreparedness for the polls and his parents' disapproval.

He said Amien understood his decision.

PAN has always been associated with Muhammadiyah, as some of
the party's founders are members of the country's second-largest
Muslim organization. Amien was Muhammadiyah chairman before he
chaired PAN. -- Antara