I am absolutely convinced with (the spirit of) Islam, we can accomplish our best work."
Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Islam-based political parties in Indonesia have the possibility to join forces in the presidential race next July, according to a political party chairman.

"It is possible for Islam-based political parties to coalesce," General Chairman of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) Suryadharma Ali said here on Saturday.

The PPP general chairman, who is also religious affairs minister, was here to take part in a fun-walk organized by the Inter-faith Community Forum (FKUB).

"We have to admit that there are groups in society who want a coalition of Islamic parties in the country," the religious affairs minister.

However, he still refused to comment on who might be nominated as the presidential candidate of such an Islam-based party coalition.

Earlier, PPP Deputy General Chairman Hazrul Azwar said his political party members and legislative candidates were showing great interest in nominating the PPP general chairman as its presidential candidate.

At a PPP anniversary congress, Surayadharma Ali stated his readiness to be nominated as the PPP presidential candidate.

"Bismillah (in the name of God), I accept the nomination (to become presidential candidate)," Suryadharma stated at the PPP 41st anniversary.

According to Suryadharma, as a PPP cadre who has been educated and nurtured by the party, (he) automatically has an obligation to devote himself to the PPP and the Indonesian people, who have a wide range of diversity.

Suryadharma believed that in the spirit of Islam, the nations complicated problems can be solved.

"I am absolutely convinced with (the spirit of) Islam, we can accomplish our best work," he said.

With regard to a failure of the partys second national congress to declare its presidential candidate in the current Second National Working Meeting (Mukernas II), Suryadharma said the PPP will not declare its presidential hopeful until after the countrys legislative general election in April this year.

"There is no declaration of a presidential candidate," Secretary of PPPs Experts Assembly Ahmad Yani said on the sidelines of the partys second national congress here on Sunday.

Further, he added that the decision to announce PPPs presidential candidate would be taken at the PPP National Leadership Meeting forum after the 2014 legislative elections in April.

Apart from that, the PPPs congress also agreed to include another six figures to become the partys nominees for the presidential candidates, including Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, and Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jusuf Kalla.

Also the East Kutai (Kalimantan) Regent Isran Noor, General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Shamsuddin, former Chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK) Jimly Asshiddiqie and former Minister of Womens Empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

The PPP has set a target of receiving 12 percent of the votes in the 2014 legislative general election, Suryadharma said earlier.

"If PPP reaches its set target of votes, then it will help the party to secure 67 seats in parliament," Suryadharma said.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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