Jakarta, NU Online
Mahfud MD, the former Constitutional Court chief justice, remains the strongest presidential candidate for the National Awakening Party, according to party members who have refuted rumors that dangdut singer Rhoma Irama is likely to take the helm.<>

“Several figures have registered with the PKB [National Awakening Party] for presidential candidacy, but so far, Mahfud is still the strongest,” said PKB’s central executive board deputy chairman Daniel Johan in Pontianak on Thursday.

Daniel’s statement opposes dangdut singer Rhoma Irama’s claim that he had signed a contract with PKB to be the party’s presidential candidate.

Daniel said Mahfud’s strength is derived from three factors: he meets the PKB’s presidential candidate criteria and he is supported both by PKB leaders and potential voters.

Mahfud who had been invited by the Democratic Party to join its convention to select a presidential candidate has not made any decisions about joining.

“I haven’t decided to take part in the convention yet. I need to consider many things,” said Mahfud in Jakarta on Friday.

Daniel defined PKB presidential candidacy criteria as honest and clean and someone who is a nationalist and working for the people. “A presidential candidate from PKB should also have the courage to promote an independent economic, food and energy concept, implement clean governance through legal enforcement and strict bureaucratic reform.”

Daniel said that these criteria are needed to overcome problems in Indonesia.

“The people are waiting for a clean and honest leader and at the same time someone who has the nerve to build an independent economy and is able to strictly enforce the law, especially in the fight against graft,” he said.

Although PKB hasn’t officially decided on its presidential candidate, the leaders and cadres are likely to narrow the candidates to Mahfud and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, Daniel said.

With regard to Rhoma, Daniel said his support was not widespread.

He added that PKB wanted to become the party to make fundamental changes for the people and that only a party cadre could help the party achieve that goal.

“Only the party’s cadre can achieve that. Mahfud will follow Gus Dur’s [former president Abdurrahman Wahid] path who had the courage to act but remained humanist,” Daniel said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq