PAN names Amien presidential candidate
PAN names Amien presidential candidate
BANDUNG (JP): The National Mandate Party (PAN) officially
nominated its chairman Amien Rais its presidential candidate on
Friday, and vowed at the end of its congress here to win up to 35
percent of the vote in the general election next June.
Amien told a media briefing: "With all humbleness and a sense
of responsibility...Insya Allah (God willing), I accept the
nomination."
When asked for comment over the possibility of President B.J.
Habibie seeking another term, Amien said it was the President's
prerogative.
"If he wants to seek the presidency again and run, it would be
difficult for us to avoid that situation. But he would have to be
ready to compete with other candidates including myself, Megawati
(Soekarnoputri)..." he said.
However, "I suggest that he does not run, because he's a mere
extension of (former president) Soeharto. He should not (involve
himself) in developing the future, because we're going to need
something really new for the future," he said.
Amien said that if he were elected president, he would
prioritize the implementation of two tenets of the state ideology
Pancasila, namely "a just and civilized humanity" and "social
justice for all."
He also promised to develop and nurture democracy, and hold on
to some universal principles, including one that ensures that the
masses control their leaders. "My second principle would be
freedom of speech, freedom of faith, freedom from (want of) basic
needs, and freedom from fear," he said.
The three-day congress was attended by 500 party executives
from all 27 chapters and more than 300 branches across Indonesia.
Most of its sessions were closed to the press, and participants
discussed, among other things, strategies to win the poll.
The party also issued a political statement on, among other
things, the campaign for reform. The party warned against
"antireform" forces which were still solid.
"They are still working to obstruct the goals and direction of
the reform movement," Amien said, but did not elaborate.
Amien was accompanied by party officials including secretary-
general Faisal Basri, deputy chairmen Abdillah Thoha and A.M.
Fatwa, and advisors Taufik Abdullah and Maj. Gen. (ret) Soewarno
Adiwidjojo.
Abdillah Thoha said the party's priority now was to make the
elections a success. "After that, we'll see whether there are
other parties with similar vision, with whom we can form a
coalition to bring Pak Amien to the presidency," he said.
In Jakarta, commenting on Amien's nomination, chairman of the
United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz said it was "normal"
for any political party to nominate their leader for president.
However, he pointed out that many difficulties lay ahead as
the elections would be contested by many political parties.
"Let's just wait and see the results of the upcoming
elections," he told journalists after chairing a plenary session
of the PPP House of Representatives faction.
Although more than 100 parties have been established since
May, the government has predicted -- due to stringent
requirements the parties will have to meet -- that only 30
parties will make the ballot paper.
So, Hamzah said: "We don't even know how many percent (of the
votes) our party is going to get... but one thing is for sure,
that there'll be no single party that can win 60 percent
(required for a party to make its chairman president)."
"So this means there'll be a coalition... and no party can go
it alone in the campaign for its candidate," he said.
Hamzah also said that as a political party chairman he would
be ready to be nominated a president.
"But, please let's not become takabur," he said, referring to
an Arabic term for arrogant. (43/aan)