Parties down to nitty-gritty on vote sharing

JAKARTA (JP): Parties contesting the polls continued on Wednesday to seek partners for vote-sharing deals, with Islamic and nationalist-secular parties approaching those already in their folds.

The chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Party (PUMI), Anwar Yunus, was quoted by Antara as calling on other Islamic parties to unite for the betterment of the Muslim community.

"Let's fight the moral degradation here with strong unity among us," he said at a campaign rally on Tuesday in East Jakarta.

Eight Islamic-based parties including the United Development Party (PPP) and the Justice Party (PK) entered into an agreement on Sunday to apportion extra votes to the biggest winners among them to provide them with more legislative seats.

The other parties involved in the deal are the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), the Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU), the Islamic Community Party (PUI), the Indonesian Masyumi Islamic Political Party (PPIM) and the Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party-1905 (PSII-1905).

Another stembus akoord deal was reached between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Justice and Unity Party (PKP) and National Awakening Party (PKB) with seven nationalist-secular parties.

According to Wayan Sudarmadja, one of the PKP leaders, the seven are Murba Party, the Independent Nationalist Party (PKM), People's Choice Party (Pilar), the Independence Vanguards Party (IPKI), MKGR Party, the National Labor Party and the Indonesian National Party (PNI led by Supeni).

The secretary-generals of PDI Perjuangan, PAN, PKB and PKP were scheduled to meet Wednesday night for further discussions on the arrangement between the four parties.

Wayan said on Wednesday it was hard to gather all party leaders at a venue at the same time.

"The flight of Hayono Isman (PKP's secretary-general) is scheduled to arrive at 7 p.m. from Nias, while Faisal Basri (of PAN) was still busy campaigning at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle late this afternoon."

PKB's Iskandar Muhaimin and PDI Perjuangan's Haryanto Taslam are scheduled to join the meeting later.

He asserted the final arrangements of the stembus akoord were signed by the seven smaller parties.

"But the four (major) parties (PDI Perjuangan, PKB, PAN and PKP) have yet to sign it. There is a dispute over whether to announce it as an '11-party deal' or 'four-and-seven' parties," he said.

Another deal has been struck among leaders of the Indonesian Democrats Alliance Party (PADI), the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) and the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI).

PDKB leader Midian Sirait told a news briefing on Wednesday the agreement was made to ensure there would not be any wasted votes.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that the parties involved also discussed presidential candidates, and agreed they would not name anyone from "status-quo parties".

The party will officially name its final candidate during its congress on July 3 to July 4.

The General Elections Commission stipulates all vote-sharing partnerships must be announced by Friday. (29/43/edt/swe)