PKB bides time as Abdurrahman undergoes surgery

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)