PKS supports Amien

M. Taufiqurrahman and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

Presidential candidate Amien Rais and his running mate Siswono Yudohusodo finally won the endorsement of the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen whether this support will improve their chances in the July 5 election.

PKS leader Hidayat Nurwahid said that among all of the five candidates, only Amien could be counted on to eradicate corruption and improve law enforcement.

"The pair, especially Pak Amien, also meet the criteria of not being power-thirsty, of being committed to the country's unity and the empowerment of the poor," Hidayat said.

The decision to back Amien ends speculation that the PKS would throw its weight behind Wiranto of the Golkar Party.

The PKS earned about 8.3 million votes in the April 5 legislative election, while Amien's National Mandate Party (PAN) grabbed some 6.5 million votes. The PKS and PAN are working together to form a faction in the House of Representatives.

Hidayat said no backroom dealing was involved in the party's decision. "We did not want to receive seats in the Cabinet or anything." PKS has stated that it will be "the opposition."

Rahmat Abdullah, who heads the party's law-making body, Majelis Syuro, said the decision was made late Tuesday during an amicable meeting, after 70 percent of the 44-strong body gave their endorsement to Amien.

Hidayat said most of the remaining members of the law-making body backed Wiranto while a small number supported the Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar ticket of the United Development Party (PPP).

PKS secretary-general Anis Matta, who had been a staunch supporter of Wiranto and led a faction in the party that favored the Golkar Party candidate, said he welcomed the decision.

"We do not have to feel guilty because we failed to endorse Wiranto. And this also proves that an allegation that we were controlled by Wiranto and his money is not true," Anis said.

Noted scholar Muslim Abdurrahman doubted this move would improve Amien's chances in the election, saying it could even cost the candidate.

"I am afraid the PKS' support could prompt nationalists and secular people who have been supporting Amien to withdraw their support," Muslim said, adding that only 50 percent of PKS supporters could be expected to vote for Amien. He said the endorsement came too late. "During the one-month campaign, only 13 parties with nationalist platforms backed Amien," he said.

However political analyst Arbi Sanit said the endorsement would increase Amien's chances given the PKS' "solid" political machinery. "The endorsement is solid since it was taken after a series of debates among the PKS leaders," he said.

Din Syamsudin of Amien's campaign team said PKS' decision revealed it had stayed true to its original identity. "This (decision) highlights the PKS' identity as a Muslim-based party that chooses to back candidates who will strive for its members' interests," he said.