PBB hopes to finish among top three

PBB hopes to finish among top three

JAKARTA: The Crescent Star Party (PBB) has set its aims on
finishing among the top three in the 2004 legislative election,
its chairman said.

PBB chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra expressed on Monday his
optimism that his party would meet its target, considering its
preparations, which he said were "much better" than in 1999.

The Muslim party, a proponent of implementing sharia, or
Islamic Law, in Indonesia, won 14 seats at the House of
Representatives to finish sixth in the last election, placing it
among parties that beat the 2 percent electoral threshold.

Yusril was speaking at the opening of the party's national
working congress at a haj dormitory in Bekasi, West Java.

The congress is to discuss, among other issues, the party's
strategy to improve its standing in the 2004 polls and to
evaluate its performance in the past year.

Around 500 party executives representing the central board and
regional chapters are attending the congress, which will run
through Wednesday.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla and
Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi are expected to address
the participants on the final day of the congress on their vision
of Indonesia's future. -- Antara