PPP's Ismail wavers in vice presidency race

PPP's Ismail wavers in vice presidency race

JAKARTA (JP): United Development Party (PPP) chief Ismail
Hasan Metareum backed off Saturday from his determination to run
for vice president in 1998.

Ismail said he would not nominate himself vice president but
would carefully select names to be proposed to the People's
Consultative Assembly.

"As far as presidential and vice presidential candidacy is
concerned, we won't become a copycat by announcing names before
the right time comes," he said as quoted by Antara.

Members of the 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) will meet in March next year to elect the president and
vice president and decide the five-yearly state guidelines.

President Soeharto is widely tipped to retain his position if
he is willing to be reelected.

Ismail, who is also a deputy House Speaker, made headlines a
fortnight ago when he publicly announced he was ready to run for
vice president if his party backed him.

Addressing the party's 24th anniversary celebrations in
Bandung, West Java, Ismail repeatedly said he would be careful in
selecting candidates.

"Besides being capable and acceptable among the various groups
in society, presidential and vice-presidential candidates should
be morally clean, honest and religious... have a strong
commitment to upholding the truth and eradicating corruption,
collusion and other immoral deeds."

Ismail's change of heart was noticeable Thursday when he said
that the widespread publication of his intention to run for the
second top position had ruined his chances.

He said the publication had put him in an awkward position
because, under his party's constitution, his candidacy should be
formally approved by the party board of executives.

So far, only PPP's Jakarta chapter has openly declared its
support for Ismail's nomination.

Several individuals, however, have expressed their support for
Ismail's nomination. The latest support came from deputy chairman
of the PPP's Central Java chapter, Thoyfoer, who called on the
other chapters and branches to follow the Jakarta chapter's move.

"It's a good idea to nominate Ismail. We'll support him,"
Thoyfoer said.

Chairman of the PPP's Surakarta chapter Mudrick Sangidu said
Ismail should have sought nomination of presidency, not just vice
presidency.

"He should not have hesitated to state his ambition," said
Sangidu, who sprang to prominence with his criticism of the
government's siding with Golkar.

Noted Moslem leader KH Alawy of Sampang in East Java, however,
criticized PPP. He said the PPP should now select names for the
vice presidency post instead of openly fielding Ismail. "Then it
should submit the names when the right time comes."

Several names have been mentioned qualified for vice
presidency, including the incumbent Try Sutrisno, State Minister
of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, State Minister for
National Development and Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Army
Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono.

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja has said
the recent discussion about vice presidential nomination
"pointless" as only one person, namely the elected president, who
has the final say as to whom should be chosen.

However, noted scholar Sayidiman Suryohadiprodjo hailed the
growing discourse as signs of a "lively democracy" here.

The former governor of the National Resilience Institute, a
military think-tank, said in Medan Saturday that there was
nothing wrong with people naming their preferred candidates.

"It's okay to name Try Sutrisno, (former vice president)
Sudharmono or Habibie as candidates of next vice president. It
all shows that we're now ready to live in a democracy," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.

"But it's the sole authority of MPR to decide which candidate
is suitable," he said. (imn/har/swe/aan)