Three parties join PPP for polls

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