'Cak Nur' considers other ways

'Cak Nur' considers other ways

CIREBON, West Java: Muslim intellectual Nurcholish Madjid, also known as Cak Nur, says he will consider taking the offer of a Muslim-based party, after withdrawing from the Golkar Party convention to elect the party's presidential candidates.

"I will try other ways after withdrawing from the Golkar convention," Nurcholis said during a dialog here on Saturday.

However, he said it would be too early to mention the party he had in mind.

Earlier during the dialog organized by the Association of Indonesian Muslim Students Alumni (KAHMI) in cooperation with Mitra Dialog daily newspaper, he said he would concentrate on efforts to help spread democracy.

"I prefer to concentrate on spreading democracy among the population. The problem is, there is not enough understanding of true democracy among the people," he said.

Responding to calls for him to refrain from joining the presidential race, Nurcholish said he would rest the matter on the development of democracy in Indonesia.

"Whether or not (I will) join the presidential race, depends on how democracy progresses in Indonesia. We'll see how things work. There's no hurry. Let it take its natural course," he said. -- Antara