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