PPP's Ismail welcomes his VP nomination

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) chairman, Ismail Hasan Metareum, said yesterday he had no objections to party chapters nominating him for the vice presidency.

"PPP chapters are welcome to give vice-presidential nomination suggestions," he told reporters at his residence in South Jakarta.

However, he criticized the Jakarta party chapter for nominating him recently without the central board's consent. "It shouldn't have taken the issue to the press. It should have submitted its decision to the PPP central board first.

"Only the PPP central board has the authority (to name candidates)," he said, adding that he wanted to meet Jakarta chapter chairman Rusjdi Hamka and discuss the chapter's reason for the action.

The PPP Jakarta chapter announced at the closing ceremony of its leadership meeting here Sunday that it would support Ismail's vice-presidential nomination.

Ismail said last week he would consider running for the vice presidency if nominated by the party's central board. But he said he would wait for the support of the party's majority first.

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

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

Several individuals, however, have expressed their support for Ismail's nomination. One is PPP deputy chairwoman Aisyah Aminy who said that Ismail met the requirements for the vice president.

Support has also come from former PPP chairman Jaelani Naro, who said that Ismail's nomination was a significant development in Indonesian politics.

Former minister of home affairs Rudini said the nomination of Ismail was a sign that Indonesian politics was maturing.

"I find the public has managed to carry out the principles of democracy in better ways now. Even people from the grassroots now have the courage to voice their aspirations," Rudini said in Bandung after attending a seminar on regional autonomy yesterday.

He said the latest move by PPP was different from that of 1988 when its then chairman Jaelani Naro challenged then Golkar chief Sudharmono for the vice presidency.

State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita threw his weight yesterday behind open discussions for the vice-presidential nominations, but dismissed speculation that he was involved in the race.

"It's very important that the public are allowed to talk about it openly, although it sometimes causes the (so-called) candidates to feel awkward," Ginandjar told reporters.

Ginandjar, who is serving his second five-year term as a cabinet minister, has been named a strong candidate for the vice presidency, along with the incumbent Try Sutrisno, Golkar chairman Harmoko, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono.

Ginandjar played down reports about his possible entry to the race.

"A vice president must be ready to take over the presidential duties at any time. At this moment, I don't think I'm good enough," he said. (imn/ahy/amd)