Poll contestants should number below 10

SEMARANG, Central Java: State Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul Mu'arif said that ideally less than 10 political parties should contest the 2004 general election.

Speaking at a discussion on the amended 1945 Constitution, the minister said that more than 225 political parties were registered at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

Syamsul, a Golkar leader, said he hoped the number of election contestants would not exceed that of the 1999 elections, which had 48 parties running for office.

He said that no country in the world had 50 political parties running in its general election.

The eligibility of parties to contest the election will be determined by the General Elections Commission. -- Antara