Presidential hopefuls beat registration deadline

Presidential hopefuls beat registration deadline

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The unprecedented presidential election in July looks certain to
see six pairs of contenders, with the incumbent Megawati
Soekarnoputri and her deputy-cum-challenger Hamzah Haz being the
last to register.

One day before registration closed on Wednesday, the National
Mandate Party (PAN), Golkar Party and National Awakening Party
(PKB) presidential and vice presidential candidates signed up
with the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Amien Rais and former minister Siswono Yudohusodo, supported
by PAN and several new parties that failed to meet the electoral
threshold, registered with the KPU with the optimism that they
would fare well in the polls.

Amien, whose candidacy was announced over the weekend, said
all candidates stood an equal chance of winning and he hoped all
of them would uphold fair play.

Golkar's presidential and vice presidential candidates Gen.
(ret) Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid, whose candidacy was announced
earlier in the day, arrived in the afternoon to meet with the KPU
members and submitted all the necessary documents.

Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung and its top brass witnessed the
registration of Wiranto and Solahuddin.

To everybody's surprise, while Wiranto and Solahuddin were
answering questions from a crowd of reporters at the KPU
building, PKB presidential and vice presidential candidates
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and Marwah Daud Ibrahim came in.

Gus Dur and Marwah registered right after the Golkar
candidates left the registration room.

Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla were the
first presidential and vice presidential aspirants to register on
Monday. Supported by the Democratic Party, the Crescent Star
Party and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party, the pair have
been tipped as strong contenders.

In sharp contrast with all candidates who dressed in suits,
Gus Dur and Marwah wore traditional batik attire when they
presented their required documents.

Gus Dur said that should the KPU disqualify him for poor
health, he would quit politics.

"If the commission disqualifies me, which I doubt they will, I
will quit political life. I have been involved in it for more
than 30 years," the visually-impaired cleric said.

The KPU requires all candidates to undergo a medical checkup,
including an eye test, a policy widely criticized as
discriminatory against the disabled.

The KPU is expected to complete the verification of the
candidates credentials by May 22 and publicly announce the
eligible candidates on the same day. The draw will be conducted
the following day.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) candidate
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim
Muzadi underwent a medical examination at the Gatot Subroto Army
hospital on Tuesday.

Coordinator of the medical team Farid Anfasa Moeloek said that
both Megawati and Hasyim had their heart, eyesight, blood, memory
and reproductive system examined.

Like Megawati, Vice President Hamzah Haz and his running mate
Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar, who were nominated by
the United Development Party (PPP), will register their candidacy
on Wednesday.

Agum said that he would resign from the Cabinet once he was
declared by the KPU as the running mate of Hamzah.

A retired four-star general, Agum had earlier criticized
fellow retired military officers who joined the race for the
presidency, saying they were driven by a thirst for power.