PKB bides time as Abdurrahman undergoes surgery
JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) is awaiting the recovery of its patron, Abdurrahman Wahid, now undergoing treatment for his ailing eyes in the United States, before formally naming him its presidential candidate.
When asked on Friday about the party's presidential candidate nominations, secretary-general Iskandar Muhaimin said: "If there's a miracle from the United States, namely that Gus Dur's eye surgery is successful... then the official announcement of presidential candidate could happen before the elections." Abdurrahman is also known as Gus Dur.
"But if the operation fails, we will announce our candidate after the elections," he said after a meeting at the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Abdurrahman, chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, is widely understood to be the favorite candidate of the party. He left on Sunday for eye treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Iskandar expressed hopes Abdurrahman would get well. The prominent Muslim scholar has had problems with his eyesight for years, admitting to his aides that things look "blurred" to him.
He once told a foreign magazine that if he regained his eyesight, he would run for president. And continued, "If I run, I win."
"The doctors had not given us too much hope (of recovery). But considering that he was once knocked down by a stroke but later amazingly recovered... we may wish for this kind of miracle to happen to his eyes, too," Iskander said.
He explained that Abdurrahman is physically healthy. "He has high mobility and travels across the country a lot more than I do."
On Friday, the party also submitted its list of legislative candidates to the National Elections Committee (PPI).
Among the prospective legislators are ulema Nur Muhammad Iskandar and popular singer Hetty Koes Endang who will run in Jakarta, PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil in Tegal, Central Java, and Mustofa Bisri in Badung, Bali.
"I myself will run in Sidoarjo, East Java, while it is not likely that (Abdurrahman) will run for a legislative seat," Iskandar added.
In a related development, Golkar Party leader Rully Chairul Azwar said Friday the party will hold its plenary meeting next week.
"After that we will hold the leadership meeting and decide on our final presidential candidate. So far the President (B.J. Habibie) is the strongest contender," Rully said on the sidelines of the KPU meeting.
Golkar leaders have been at odds over the party's candidates for president. Akbar Tandjung also believes Habibie is the party's strongest candidate. Another influential leader, Marzuki Darusman, however, named Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto as the person most likely to emerge as the strongest possibility.
Antara, however, reported from Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi that the leadership meeting of all chapters of the Indonesian Independence Vanguard Party (IPKI) concluded by nominating Habibie its presidential candidate.
The head of the party's presidium, Andi Sose, told reporters after the meeting his party supported all measures taken by the government, and all related institutions in society, to make the June 7 general election a success. (edt)