Hasyim nominated for presidency

Hasyim nominated for presidency

JAKARTA: The Christian-based political party Love the Nation
Democratic Party (PDKB) has proposed chairman of the country's
largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Hasyim Muzadi as
its presidential candidate.

PDKB chairman Manasse Malo said on Tuesday that Hasyim
fulfilled the requirements for the country's leader because of
his willingness to listen to people regardless of their ethnic
background or religion.

The party's executives met Hasyim on Tuesday to convey their
intention at NU's headquarters on Jl. Kramat Raya in Central
Jakarta.

Hasyim himself did not immediately respond to the proposal,
saying that he would consult NU's clerics who he said had
assigned him to lead the organization instead of running for
government posts.

Several provincial chapters of Golkar, the country's second
largest political party, had once nominated Hasyim as their
presidential candidate, but Hasyim rejected the request. -- JP