PPP eyes non-politicians in 2004

JAKARTA: The Islamic-oriented United Development Party (PPP) is considering nominations of non-politicians from outside the party as legislative candidates in the 2004 general election.

Party chairman Hamzah Haz came up with the idea during his meeting with party faithful here on Wednesday.

Arief Mudatsir Mandan, a PPP member, revealed that Hamzah, who is also the country's vice president, had proposed a convention for the party, allowing anyone to be a PPP legislative candidate.

Hamzah wants his party to accept people from outside the party as legislative candidates in order to have credible and acceptable legislative candidates.

Arief added that Hamzah's proposal was still an idea which needed further discussions at the party's national congress scheduled for May. --Antara