Muslim leaders meet on alternative force
JAKARTA (JP): Four leading Muslim politicians agreed on Saturday to push toward the presidential election by setting up an alliance expected to become an alternative to the existing two camps of Megawati Soekarnoputri of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and B.J. Habibie of Golkar Party.
National Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Amien Rais, Crescent Star Party (PBB) Chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Ummat Awakening Party (PKU) Chairman Yusuf Hasyim and United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Hamzah Haz reached the agreement in a closed-door meeting at the PPP headquarters in Central Jakarta on Saturday.
Antara quoted PBB Chairman Yusril as saying after the meeting the four discussed the strength of their alliance in facing the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly and the presidential election.
For the time being, the eight Islamic parties which decided in May a stembus akoord (vote pooling deal) and PAN and PKB have agreed to join the new camp, Yusril said, adding the door is open for any other parties wishing to strengthen the grouping further.
The eight were PPP, PBB, Justice Party (PK), Indonesian Muslim Party (PUI), PKU, Masyumi Party, 1905 PSSII and Nadhlatul Ummah Party (PNU).
Hamzah Haz said the third, alternative force could play a dominant role in the presidential election because, together, they controlled 168 seats out of the 500-seats in the next House of Representatives.
Amien had earlier named the emerging camp as "central axis."
"This (camp) will be able to defeat both PDI Perjuangan and Golkar in the presidential election," he told The Jakarta Post in an interview by phone.
Based on the election results announced by the National Election Committee, PDI Perjuangan won 154 while Golkar got 120 seats respectively. PDI Perjuangan nominated chairwoman Megawati as its presidential candidate while Golkar backed incumbent President Habibie.
Observers believed the establishment of the new camp was a response to the failure of Ciganjur group in forming an alliance to face up to Golkar.
Amien, Megawati, Abdurachman popularly known as Gus Dur, and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X issued a Ciganjur communique to block Habibie's nomination for the next president.
Yusril said that the four had yet to discuss their presidential candidate in the meeting. He hoped the topic would be discussed in the next meetings.
PKU Chairman Yusuf Hasyim, popularly known as Pak Ud, hailed Amien Rais for coming out in his support of Abdurrahman's presidential bid. Amien's stance may help boost Abdurrahman's chance, he believed, and create further support from among members of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama, which Abdurrahman chairs.
"The naming by Amien of Gus Dur as a presidential candidate is an extraordinary thing...," Yusur said, adding that as a NU member, he fully supported Gus Dur's nomination.
Amien said representatives of PKB and five other Muslim parties who did not attend Saturday's meeting were expected to participate in the next meetings.
"Of the most importance is that we share a common perception that an alternative force is needed for the incoming MPR General Session," he said.
He denied that parties grouped in the new camp tried were seeking to stage their own presidential election, in violation of the procedure in the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Political observer Arbi Sanit gave thumbs down for the new camp, accusing the parties involved of seeking to break through the tight competition between Golkar and PDI Perjuangan by staging their own presidential campaigns outside of the recognized procedures. (rms)