Golkar, PDI-P battle for heart, mind of Hasyim

Golkar, PDI-P battle for heart, mind of Hasyim

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Surabaya

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and its arch
rival, the Golkar Party are beefing up efforts to woo support
from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) -- and its 40 million followers -- in
their bid to win the presidential election.

Senior PDI-P members Sabam Sirait and Soetardjo Soerjoguritno
visited former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid on Tuesday
to ask for his approval of the party's nomination of NU chairman
Hasyim Muzadi as the running mate of PDI-P leader Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who is the President.

Golkar presidential candidate Wiranto had earlier in the day
met with Gus Dur at Juanda airport in Surabaya for the same
purpose. Wiranto was heading for the NU ulemas gathering at
Somerset Hotel in the East Java capital, where he would later
speak.

Wiranto and Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung are scheduled to hold
separate meetings with Gus Dur and Hasyim in Jakarta on
Wednesday.

Gus Dur, who is a former NU chairman and cofounder of the
National Awakening Party (PKB), was not invited to the NU
meeting, which finished up on Tuesday evening. Another prominent
presidential candidate, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from the
Democratic Party spoke as well, while presidential candidate from
the National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien Rais was not in
attendance.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said the
party had narrowed down its choices to Hasyim and United
Development Party (PPP) leader Hamzah Haz, who is also the Vice
President.

"The two stand an equal chance of becoming Megawati's running
mate. She will select one of them herself and will announce it on
May 1 or May 2," Pramono said.

He said as a nationalist-oriented party, PDI-P needed a Muslim
leader with a lot of grassroots support, like Hasyim, while
Hamzah had proven that he could work with Megawati over the past
three years.

Megawati had held a meeting with the NU clerics, including
Hasyim, in Surabaya after she opened the gathering on Monday.

Golkar has also said there was a possibility of joining forces
with PKB and NU to win the July 5 presidential election. Both
Wiranto and Akbar agreed on Monday to pick any running mate
endorsed by Gus Dur.

Later on Tuesday Gus Dur sprang a surprise that might foil any
moves to court Hasyim.

"I have repeatedly said that I've never endorsed Pak Hasyim to
contest any positions (president or vice president). He is a big
liar if he said I supported him after we met in Sukabumi
recently," Gus Dur announced during a press conference after
speaking with representatives from the Commission for Missing
Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the private human
rights group Imparsial.

Gus Dur met Hasyim in the West Java town on Saturday, and it
was seen at the time as a sign of reconciliation between the two.

The PKB cofounder also stated that he declined to endorse
prospective running mates proposed by Wiranto when they met in
Surabaya earlier in the day.

"No decision can be made yet, pending the outcome of a
judicial review we filed with the Supreme Court against a KPU
regulation on medical checks," Gus Dur said, referring to the
General Elections Commission ruling that requires presidential
and vice presidential candidates to undergo health examinations,
including an eye test. Gus Dur's vision is said to be less than
stellar.

Gus Dur also promised to the rights groups that he would not
build a coalition with presidential candidates from military
background, in an obvious reference to retired generals Wiranto
and Susilo. Related photo on Page 2