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)