NU leader pledges support for PPP in upcoming poll

JAKARTA (JP): Idham Chalid, a senior leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), pledged his support yesterday for the United Development Party (PPP) in the coming general election.

"I am always prepared to help PPP in its campaigning for the May general election," Idham told a PPP delegation.

Led by chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, the delegation visited the NU elder member at his pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Cipete subdistrict, South Jakarta. The delegation came to Idham, who chaired the traditional Islamic organization from 1956 to 1984, to ask for his support in the election.

Idham, 74, was also the first PPP chairman, holding the post between 1971 and 1977, when NU was still an important component of the party.

The party marks its 24th anniversary with a reception at the Jakarta Fair Ground this morning.

Ismail was accompanied by secretary-general Tosari Widjaya, his deputies Aisyah Aminy, Hamzah Haz, Ali Hardi Kiaidemak, Zain Badjeber, Zarkasih Nur and Muchsin Bafadal, plus PPP Advisory Council chairman Maemun Zubair.

Idham ruled out taking an active part in PPP's election campaign, saying his support would be spiritual rather than physical.

"It is almost impossible for me to travel to campaign for the PPP because of my health," he said.

He said he had been ill for six months but kept monitoring PPP's progress with his assistants' help.

It is unclear if Idham's followers and other NU supporters will also support the PPP.

With the countdown to the May election underway, NU with its 30 million followers is certainly a lure to PPP and the other two contestants, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly stressed that NU would not play politics like it had in the past.

Abdurrahman, a staunch critic of the government and a pro- democracy leader, has insisted NU members are free to vote for whoever they want.

Established in 1926 as a socio-religious organization, NU was a powerful political party before merging with three other Moslem parties to form the PPP in 1973.

In 1984, when Abdurrahman Wahid took the helm from Idham, NU severed its formal ties with PPP, and has since stayed away from party politics.

Many senior NU figures have continued to work for the PPP but others have also joined Golkar and the PDI.

Idham called on the PPP to uphold its traditional role of promoting social causes in the country's development program.

"PPP was once accused of conspiring to replace the state ideology Pancasila with Islam, and to establish an Islamic state. The accusation proved groundless and PPP has always been consistent in its commitment to national development," he said.

NU is a rural-based organization and its members are often seen as quite traditional and loyal to those in power.

Idham, who chaired the Supreme Advisory Council from 1977 until 1983, called on the PPP to improve its performance, and expected the party to become a major political organization someday.

Ismail said the visit to Idham was something he did annually because Idham was still considered a senior PPP figure. He also said he hoped to use the visit to ensure Idham's support for the coming election. (imn)