Three parties join PPP for polls

JAKARTA: Three tiny Muslim-based parties have decided to join forces with the United Development Party (PPP) for the 2004 general elections.

The Nahdlatul Ulama Party (PNU) led by Syukron Makmun, the New Masyumi Party (PMB) led by Ridwan Saidi and the New Indonesia Party (PIB) led by Syaiful Anwar announced their parties' coalition with PPP during a meeting with its chairman Hamzah Haz on Tuesday.

"As of now, the supporters or these parties are officially part of our party," PPP deputy secretary general Emron Pangkapi said after the meeting.

He said another four parties would follow suit and would further strengthen PPP in the election. PPP finished third behind the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Golkar in the 1999 election. --JP