PPP ready to join forces with PDI-P

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) revealed on Friday its readiness to form a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the upcoming presidential election.

PPP chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also the incumbent Vice President, said his party was seeking a common stance on economic development and education with the PDI-P as a condition for joining forces.

"With only 8 percent of the vote, we cannot say anything. The fact is, the PDI-P once supported us all the way to win the vice presidential seat. It's all up to the PDI-P to decide whether the coalition will materialize," Hamzah said at his official residence.

Hamzah won the vice presidency at the expense of Akbar Tandjung in the 2001 election by the People's Consultative Assembly, succeeding Megawati Soekarnoputri in the post. Megawati assumed power after the Assembly impeached then president Abdurrahman Wahid for incompetence during a special session.

Megawati, in her capacity as PDI-P leader, ordered her party's legislators to vote for Hamzah, who had openly opposed a female president previously.

Megawati's choice of Hamzah was considered by many at the time as an unlikely union between the nationalist-oriented and Muslim parties; but it was deemed necessary, however, to woo Muslim support for Megawati, whose presidential bid was foiled by an alliance of Muslim parties in 1999 known as the Axis Force.

Ahead of the April 5 legislative election, PDI-P executives held a meeting with Hamzah to offer cooperation.

PDI-P senior executive Roy BB Janis is one who supports the idea of maintaining cooperation between the PDI-P and the PPP.

Megawati is to announce her running mate in early May, but has made it clear that she needs a partner who represents Muslims.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country.

Aside from Hamzah, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah leader Malik Fadjar and Golkar Party member Jusuf Kalla -- also the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare -- have been put forth as possible running mates. Jusuf and Hamzah are both members of the NU.

The KPU will open registration for presidential and vice presidential candidates from May 1 through May 7.

The PPP is ranked fourth with only around 8 percent of the vote in the ongoing ballot count, which means it is in a difficult position to contest the presidential election. The PDI- P is ranked second with 19.7 percent of votes.

When asked whether the PDI-P could still expect support from the PPP if it offered the vice presidential post to another party, Hamzah hinted at a possible change of plan.

"I still represent the interests of other Muslim-based political parties.

"Should the PDI-P decide to break the existing cooperation, then maybe we also have to look to another direction," he said.