PKB reverses field, backs Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): The presidential race became even tighter on Thursday after the National Awakening Party (PKB) threw its weight behind the presidential nomination of Abdurrahman Wahid.

However, PKB's shifting stance has created more confusion than certainty. Its support for the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman is tantamount to deserting the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri.

PKB's sudden shift came hot on the heels of Abdurrahman's formal nomination by the Reform faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The faction comprises the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice Party (PK).

"Gus Dur is suitable as our next president, and real support is continuing to pour in," said PKB deputy chairman Alwi Shihab as he announced the party's backing of Abdurrahman, who is popularly known as Gus Dur.

Alwi conceded that PKB found itself in a dilemma after Abdurrahman, the party's founder and chairman of the Muslim organization, was officially nominated for the presidency.

In an apparent attempt to keep all political options open and not alienate PDI Perjuangan altogether, Alwi claimed that despite PKB's support for Abdurrahman, the party would not turn its back on Megawati.

"We support Gus Dur's nomination as our presidential candidate. But this does not mean we will leave Megawati behind," he said without elaborating.

He said PKB was not attempting to damage the close personal relations between Megawati and Abdurrahman over the presidential race.

The loose coalition of PAN and several Muslim parties known as the "axis force" have long touted Abdurrahman as a presidential candidate. That support was formally realized on Wednesday when the Reform faction, which includes two of the axis force members, nominated the NU chief.

PKB itself had until Thursday claimed they were fully behind Megawati's candidacy.

How this development affects the Oct. 20 presidential election between the three leading candidates -- Megawati, Abdurrahman and incumbent B.J. Habibie -- remains to be seen, as even Alwi acknowledged the fluidity of the political situation.

Alwi said the PKB would be keeping a close eye on the axis force.

"If at the last minute, before the presidential election, the axis force withdraws its support for Gus Dur, it will be easy for PKB to return to PDI Perjuangan in its support of Megawati," he said.

Abdurrahman's viewpoint on the leadership issue has not been clear cut. He said he accepted the nomination, but continued to personally support Megawati.

Not all of the parties linked with the axis force, the Crescent Star Party (PBB) in particular, have formalized their support for Abdurrahman.

Maneuver

Senior PDI Perjuangan figures coolly received the PKB declaration, refusing to show concern that the chances of their own candidate had been dealt a blow.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Kwik Kian Gie and senior executive Sutjipto said the move could be an elaborate political maneuver by the wily NU chief.

"I don't know... But I hope this is his (Abdurrahman's) strategy for a political maneuver to, at the right time, lend his support for Megawati in the presidential election," Kwik said on Thursday.

Kwik said the move would not affect PDI Perjuangan's fight for the top job.

Sutjipto said he hoped Abdurrahman would continue his personal supportive stand on Megawati's bid.

"PDI Perjuangan's supporters, many of whom are from NU, believe that Gus Dur will support Megawati. We believe Gus Dur will not run for the presidential race, because he himself supports Megawati," Sutjipto said.

Political analysts agreed on Thursday that the PKB move was a setback for PDI Perjuangan, but were at odds on whether it was an elaborate political ruse to impede one of the presidential candidates.

Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia said PDI Perjuangan had only their own arrogance to blame for the setbacks it had encountered.

"They feel they won the election and so neglect to nurture alliances with other parties," he said.

Political observer M. Mahfud of the Indonesian Islamic University in Yogyakarta said it was only to be expected that PKB, which was founded by and is comprised of NU members, would support Abdurrahman's nomination.

"There's no way PKB would not have supported Gus Dur once the nomination became formal," he told The Jakarta Post.

Mahfud refused to say outright whether Megawati had suffered a setback, but noted that PKB's announcement would worry the Habibie camp, because Gus Dur would be directly challenging the incumbent for support from Assembly members who were not aligned to the Megawati camp.

"They haven't even proclaimed it, yet I'm sure Yusril (PBB chief) supports Gus Dur. And I'm also certain that the United Development Party (PPP) would in the end swing toward Gus Dur, because many of its party executives don't support either Habibie or Megawati," Mahfud said.

Former minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said in Yogyakarta that due to the current circumstances PDI Perjuangan had to be more active in lobbying for support.

"Its two-way traffic. People are being forced to show goodwill to PDI Perjuangan, but on the other hand they also have to show goodwill to others," Sarwono said.

Sarwono refused to reveal his preference between Gus Dur and Megawati.

"As long as it isn't Habibie, I will have faith in the next government," he said.

In Bandung, Indonesian Institute of Sciences political researcher Indria Samego said that Abdurrahman was setting himself up as a kingmaker in the current political scene.

"Whether the Golkar Party maintains its support for Habibie will determine Abdurrahman's next move," he said. (rms/05/23/43/44)