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.