Islamic Organizations Not to Field Any Presidential Candidate
23 April 2014 13:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairman Din Syamsuddin said that the community organization forum would not recommend any names for the presidential or vice presidential candidate. "We are no discussing any one figure," he said after the Ukhuwah Islamiyah Forum at the MUI office in Jakarta on Monday, April 21, 2014.
According to Din, Islamic organizations called on Islamic parties to unite in the presidential election. He said that Islamic parties could garner 32 percent of the votes. Those parties were also advised to merge with nationalist parties, which could be a strategic strength with an Islamic party leading the coalition.
Dozens of Islamic organizations attended the Ukhuway Islamiyah Forum. It was a follow-up of a previous meeting in Central Jakarta last week. The attendees announced they could not come to an agreement on an Islamic-based coalition.
Din said that another meeting, which will involve Nadhlatul Ulama Chairman Said Aqil Siradj, will be held soon. He added that he wish to have an Islamic party coalition so religious values could be implemented for the benefit of Muslims in Indonesia.
The Prosperity and Justice Party (PKS) Shura Council member, Refrizal, said that allying Islamic parties together would take time. However, the idea is highly recommended because it can potentially gather the votes to exceed the minimum presidential candidacy requirement. "But it is difficult because Islamic parties and organization shave only met twice," he said.
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