Gus Dur serious about presidential bid, Amien says

JAKARTA (JP): Muslim leader and founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid reiterated on Friday his willingness to be nominated as the country's next president by a group of Muslim-based parties popularly called the axis force.

National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais said after visiting Gus Dur at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, that Abdurrahman was committed to his presidential bid. PKB earlier named Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri for the presidency.

"Gus Dur still accepts his presidential nomination by the axis force," Amien, who initiated the loose affiliation of Muslim- based parties, told Antara.

Amien said however, that Abdurrahman would leave the final decision to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which will vote in November to elect a president.

It was the first meeting between the two Muslim leaders since Abdurrahman returned from a United States trip, in which he sought overseas medical treatment for his eye problems. Amien said Abdurrahman's vision had improved following the treatment.

Amien argued that PKB had not officially selected Megawati for the presidency.

"There has been no official statement given by PKB saying: 'We PKB hereby nominate Megawati'. There has been no such announcement."

PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil confirmed on Monday his party's support for Megawati for the top executive post. Abdurrahman has repeatedly said he personally backed Megawati's presidential bid.

Megawati's PDI Perjuangan topped the ballot tally in the June 7 elections with 33.7 percent of the vote. PKB was third with 12.6 percent, behind the ruling Golkar Party which gained 22.4 percent.

Megawati, Abdurrahman and Amien met several times prior to the elections in a bid to form a coalition to fight status quo forces, but the alliance never materialized.

The axis force groups PAN, the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Justice Party (PK), the Nadhlatul Ummat Party (PNU), the New Masyumi Party, the Indonesian United Islamic Party 1905 (PSSI-1905) and the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU).

Abdurrahman was named an alternative presidential candidate in a bid to offset fears that a two-horse race between Megawati and Golkar's nominee B.J. Habibie would intensify political polarization in the country.

Habibie

In Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, PPP deputy chairman A.M. Saefuddin, predicted on Friday that the axis force would eventually throw its weight behind Habibie.

Saefuddin, who is state minister of food and horticulture, said before leaving for Jakarta that the Muslim-based coalition was currently not pushing the move seriously.

He said both PAN and PPP, the backbone of the coalition, had yet to announce their official presidential candidates.

"As a matter of fact Amien nominates Gus Dur in his personal capacity."

Saefuddin said he personally supported Habibie's presidential bid due to the incumbent president's capabilities of uniting the nation, providing peace and security to the people and showing concern for their welfare.

"Habibie is PPP's most likely candidate. Under his leadership hopefully there will be no hunger."

Saefuddin completed on Friday a two-day visit to the province, during which he monitored rice market operations and distribution of cheap rice provided by the government. (amd)