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)