Five NU ulemas to vie for DPD seats in C. Java

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto, Central Java

At least five charismatic ulemas from the nation's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulema (NU), in Central Java will contest seats for the province's Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in the 2004 elections.

They have passed the administrative selections as DPD candidates representing Central Java, home to about 30 million people.

The five are poet Mustofa Bisri, novelist Ahmad Thohari, Khalwani, Fathuddin Rosyidi and Nafisah Sahal, the wife of Sahal Mahfud who chairs the law-making body on the NU central board.

The NU figures are expected to struggle to win support from members of their own organization, which claims to have 40 million members.

"However, what we regret is that some of them have tried to win the hearts of NU members by seeking recommendations from the organization. I think it's not fair," Thohari said.

"Though many other kyai (Muslim clerics) have expressed their support for me, I will not ask for a recommendation from the NU. That does not educate people," he added.

Thohari said two of the candidates, Mustofa who is better known as Gus Mus, and Nafisah, have officially been supported by the Central Java chapter of NU.

Other DPD candidates include Dahlan Rais, who chairs the nation's second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, for the Central Java chapter.

"Dahlan Rais has obtained a recommendation from Muhammadiyah to contest the DPD election," said Hasyim As'ari, a member of Central Java's General Election Commission (KPU).

He predicted the DPD election race in the province would be tight among the many religious figures who had registered to join.

At least 69 people had registered with the KPU to vie for the DPD seats and 11 of them had reportedly failed to meet administrative requirements.

Only 58 hopefuls were undergoing the process of verification by the local KPU.

Under the election law, all the provinces are each represented by four elected members of the DPD that will make up the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) along with the House of Representatives.