Susilo lays low by Megawati's side
Susilo lays low by Megawati's side
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As the election draws close, political parties are now openly
touting their possible presidential and vice presidential
candidates in the hope of drumming up enough support to grab
power.
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
added on Monday senior Muhammadiyah leader Malik Fadjar to its
list of possible running mates of party standard-bearer Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
Meanwhile, Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza
Mahendra revealed for the first time on Monday that he had
approached Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as his running mate in the
upcoming election.
"Don't ever discount the presence of Malik Fadjar; he is also
among those tipped as a vice presidential candidate," senior PDI-
P leader Taufik Kiemas said.
Earlier, Taufik had mentioned Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman
Hasyim Muzadi, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and United
Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz as potential running
mates of Megawati.
"The most important thing is that these people share a common
platform with PDI-P that is nationalist," said Taufik, who is
also the husband of the incumbent, President Megawati.
Megawati, who took over the national leadership in July 2001,
is seeking a new, full five-year mandate in the country's first-
ever direct presidential election on July 5.
Her lackluster performance, especially in fighting the
country's endemic corruption, has raised concern over whether the
party will win the upcoming election.
The naming of Malik Fadjar, who serves as minister of national
education, as a vice presidential candidate, is likely to divide
the country's second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah,
which has thrown its support behind former chairman Amien Rais.
Should Megawati pick Hasyim as her running mate, the country's
largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama, is likely be torn
between its chairman and former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who
has been nominated by the National Awakening Party (PKB) as its
presidential candidate. NU set up PKB ahead of the elections in
1999.
Taufik claimed that these names had been discussed by the PDI-
P leadership and they are calculating which could boost the vote
for Megawati.
While the naming of Malik Fadjar was clear, Yusril did not say
outright that he wanted Susilo, who is his boss in Megawati's
Gotong Royong cabinet, as his vice presidential candidate.
Yusril has been nominated as presidential candidate by PBB,
while Susilo by the newly established Democratic Party (PD).
Yusril said preliminary talks had not determined who would be
the presidential candidate.
"Yes, there have been some talks between PBB and him (Susilo)
and his close aides. We will announce it to the public soon," he
told the media after attending a House plenary meeting here.
His statement came just a day after PBB deputy secretary-
general Abdul Kadir Lamanele said that the party would ask Susilo
to be the vice presidential running mate of PBB leader Yusril in
the presidential election scheduled for July 5.
Golkar, the country's second-largest party, is also in the
process of selecting its presidential and vice presidential
candidates.