Ismail seeks nomination for vice president

Ismail seeks nomination for vice president

JAKARTA (JP): With the 1998 presidential election likely to be
another one-horse race, competition for the vice-presidency is
hotting up with the chairman of the United Development Party
(PPP), Ismail Hasan Metareum, looking for a nomination.

The chairman of the Moslem-oriented party said yesterday he
would consider standing for vice president.

"I will consider joining the vice-presidential race if the PPP
central board makes such a decision," he said.

After addressing PPP supporters in Bekasi, some 30 kilometers
east of here, Ismail said the PPP central board was gathering
information on the aspirations of its members on the candidacy.

"The PPP central board will make a decision after the PPP
branches and chapters have sent all their input," Ismail,
popularly known as Buya, said.

He said a vice president should be capable and acceptable
to all of society.

"The candidate for vice president should also be able to
cooperate with the elected president," he said.

But one of President Soeharto's political and security
advisors, Bambang Triantoro, said yesterday the Soeharto-Try
Sutrisno combination should be extended until 2003.

"Soeharto and Try Sutrisno match each other. They have similar
thoughts and ideas," Bambang, a member of the Supreme Advisory
Council, said.

Bambang said that only Try would be capable of holding the
position for a second term. No other Indonesian vice president
has been reelected.

Bambang said Try was acceptable to all of society.

"Try Sutrisno always welcomes other people's opinions and is
willing to accept criticism for improvement," he said.

But Bambang refused to comment on Try's chances of being
nominated for president, saying it would only harm him and Try.

Bambang said that discussion and lobbying for the vice-
presidency should begin.

Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday that discourse
on candidates for vice president should only occur after a new
lineup of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) had been sworn
in.

"Discourse on the presidency and vice-presidency should be
discussed in a formal MPR forum," he said yesterday.

The 1,000-strong MPR will be sworn in October. Its members
will meet in March next year to elect a president and a vice
president and establish five-yearly state guidelines.

Abdurrahman, the chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, had his own candidate for vice-
president.

"The vice-presidential post is fit for Moerdiono," he said.
Moerdiono is the minister/state secretary.

Abdurrahman said, "Moerdiono is always loyal to his friends."
(imn)