Gus Dur says he still respects Soeharto

SURABAYA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid admitted on Saturday to visiting his predecessor Soeharto on Idul Fitri holiday.

"To be frank, I paid a visit to Pak Harto on Idul Fitri because he is an old man but still has a strong influence on the government," Gus Dur told 800 ulemas and members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) which he helped found.

Gus Dur said although he fought Soeharto's New Order regime, he had not lost his respect for the former president, who stepped down in 1998 following massive rallies against him.

"I just followed the (Islamic) propagation strategy of Ahmad Mutamakin. Cleric Mutamakin was an Islamic law expert who became a leader but never faulted a ruler," Gus Dur said.

The forum was organized by the PKB faction which does not recognize the leadership of Muhaimin Iskandar, who was elected in a PKB congress in Semarang in April. The congress also elected Gus Dur the party's chief patron. -- Antara