PKB told to get 'guarantee' of support for Gus Dur

REMBANG, Central Java (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) has been told it should obtain a written guarantee from the alliance of Muslim-based parties on its intention to nominate Abdurrahman Wahid as a president candidate.

The alliance is known as the "axis force" and comprises the National Awakening Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Justice Party (PK) spearheaded by PAN chairman Amien Rais.

Cholil Bisri, vice chairman of PKB's lawmaking body, said the guarantee was important to save PKB from disappointment should the axis force change its mind.

"This is politics. Anything can happen in two months (September to October)," he said on Friday.

The new House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly are slated to be installed in October.

Leaders of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, whose executives founded PKB, have said members are confused with the presidential candidates named by their leaders -- Abdurrahman and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Cholil said it would remain natural if PKB chairman, Matori Abdul Djalil, insisted on supporting Megawati of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) as its presidential candidate.

Matori announced on Aug. 16 that PKB supported Megawati's presidential bid following PKB's decision at its congress. PKB previously stated it would support the presidential candidate from the party which won most votes in the June 7 polls.

Cholil said, "The nationalist-secularist PDI Perjuangan really needs the nationalist-religious PKB (as a partner) as both parties share a similar platform, vision and mission."

Leaders of both parties are part of the Ciganjur Group which met before the Assembly's November Special Session last year.

Cholil added that both parties should ideally help each other.

Cholil did not deny the possibility of an alliance between the Golkar Party and PDI Perjuangan.

However, Cholil also said that if a coalition emerged, it would only last for a limited period and its base would be "increasingly smaller in the next five years".

Speculation of an alliance between the two parties has surfaced, with observers pointing to the conservative image of PDI Perjuangan regarding issues such as the phasing out of the military's dual function.

"I believe that Mbak Mega will not easily form a coalition with the Golkar Party. She will think thousands of times before joining Golkar," Cholil said. Golkar has been implicated in a bank scandal.

Antara quoted Yusril Ihza Mahendra, chairman of the Crescent Star Party, as saying that the potential clout of the axis force was now being taken into account by PDI Perjuangan.

"The force will play an important role in the presidential election," Yusril said during a gathering late Thursday at the residence of Abdurrahman in South Jakarta. The event was a thanksgiving gathering for the success of Abdurrahman's eye surgery.

"PDI Perjuangan has 153 seats and the Golkar Party 120 seats, so the candidate from the axis force has a bigger chance to win with 174 seats," Yusril said.

Yusuf Hasyim, chairman of the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), was quoted as saying that Abdurrahman's nomination was proper despite his controversialism, "because he is accepted by most people and has little potential of causing conflict among the public."

The view was also shared by Nurmahmudi Ismail, president of the Justice Party, and AM Fatwa, vice chairman of PAN. (har/05)