Muslim-based parties set to make deal on extra votes

JAKARTA (JP): Eight Muslim-oriented parties are set to strike a deal on allocating extra votes, a move they say conforms to the Islamic principle of charity.

Justice Party (PK) chairman Nur Mahmudi Ismail said on the sidelines of the party's electoral campaign here on Thursday that the accord was not a concerted maneuver targeting rival parties.

"The plan is merely an effort to realize our intention to unite our vision. We have exchanged ideas concerning the issue before," Mahmudi said after addressing party supporters at Pluit Stadium in North Jakarta.

Scheduled to sign the agreement on Friday are the PK, the United Development Party (PPP), Crescent Star Party (PBB), Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU), Islamic Community Party (PUI), Indonesian Masyumi Islamic Political Party (PPIM) and Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party (PSII).

According to the accord, some of the parties will receive leftover votes from others to enable them to gain extra seats in the House of Representatives.

Details of the vote merger and allocation of the extra ballots will be discussed as soon as the agreement is signed, Mahmudi said.

He said other parties would not be barred from the agreement, adding that the eight prospective signatories set a May 30 deadline for others to participate.

Earlier, the PK, PPP and National Mandate Party (PAN), led by Amien Rais, signed a joint communique for a united stance against "status quo forces" and incumbent B.J. Habibie's presidential bid. Although it was not explicitly stated, they were apparently referring to Golkar, which has nominated Habibie as its sole presidential candidate.

PPP, PNU, PKU and the Suni Party also plan an agreement on extra votes.

But PAN, which also targets Muslim voters, has indicated its refusal to join, saying it is committed to honoring the joint communique it already signed with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

PAN secretary-general Faisal Basri said his party, PDI Perjuangan and PKB were scheduled to meet later on Thursday.

"Up to now we have yet to decide whether to follow up our separate deal with PK or PPP with a more specific arrangement on extra votes. I don't think we'll do it with them," he said.

When asked about his party's failure to lure PAN to join in the extra votes arrangement, Mahmudi said: "Both of us share some similarities, but it doesn't mean that we can coalesce. Each of us is free to choose with which parties we will cooperate."

Driving force

Separately, PBB secretary-general M.S. Kaban said the decision to share leftover votes among the eight Muslim-based parties would serve as a driving force for them to win votes.

"We do not want to waste our constituents' vote. I believe if we stick together, we may have a better chance of gaining more seats."

He dismissed the possibility for the group of eight to welcome parties which were not Muslim oriented. "To be realistic, it will be very difficult for us to open the chance for parties which share different tenets," Kaban said.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono welcomed the planned agreement among the Muslim-oriented parties and said the move was understandable.

"The map will become clearer for the voters to decide their choices. This is good for our democracy," Dimyati said. (edt/amd)