Three parties name presidential candidates

Three parties name presidential candidates

JAKARTA (JP): Two political parties tested the waters on
Friday, naming lesser known presidential candidates.

The Justice Party named Didin Hafidhuddin, a Muslim scholar,
as their presidential candidate. The Islamic People's Party (PUI)
named its chairman, political scientist Deliar Noer, while
another party, the Indonesian United Islam Party (PSII) named
President B.J. Habibie.

PSII secretary-general Amaruddin Djajasubita said, "So far we
do not have any other candidates."

Justice Party chairman Nur Mahmudi Ismail said on Friday that
Didin was selected from 12 names proposed for the presidency.
Didin, like the Justice Party, is new to the national scene.

"He (Didin) fits the criteria set during the party's national
meeting for a presidential candidate... he is a moralist, a
democrat, a patriot, truly committed to reform, independent and
young," Nur said.

The nominee must also be free from any links to past powers,
either from the Old Order or the New Order, he added.

Didin, an alumni of the Bogor Agricultural Institute, is
currently taking his doctoral degree at the State Institute of
Islamic Studies Syarif Hidayatullah in Jakarta.

"His activities as a preacher, professor and scholar are a
very good combination. He may not be popular but he has the
qualities of a leader; we all agree on this," Nur added.

Didin, a dean in the department of Islamic studies at Ibnu
Chaldun University in Bogor, stated his wish to reform all state
institutions, including the legislature, the executive and the
judicial system.

"My priority is to activate the true functions of these
institutions and for us to have a better legal system to run this
country."

In response to the possibility of the party nominating another
presidential candidate, such as Habibie, Didin simply replied,
"Let's wait and see the results of the next poll."

Political scholar Nurcholish Madjid last month said several
Islam-oriented parties would nominate Habibie as their
presidential candidate because of his identity as a Muslim
intellectual.

The Indonesian United Islam Party (PSII), explaining its
nomination of Habibie, told Antara its criteria for the
presidency was a person who was a "reformist, master of science
and technology, a democrat who respects human rights as well as
places the nation's interest above personal benefit".

Separately in Bandung, West Java, the secretary-general of the
Islamic People's Party (PUI), Judilherry, said his party would
name Deliar Noer president if it wins the upcoming general
election. (edt/43)