PPP's Ismail welcomes his VP nomination

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)