PKB firm in its support for SBY-Boediono presidential ticket

Jakarta, NU Online
The National Awakening Party (PKB) firmly maintains its support for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as a presidential candidate although he picks Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono as his running mate in the upcoming July 8 2009 presidential race, a PKB leader said.

"PKB just maintains its consistent stance," Secretary of PKB`s Lawmaking Body Andi Muawiyah Ramly said here on Wednesday. He, with two other deputy secretaries Helmy Faishal Zaini and Hanif Bhakiri, was giving explanations regarding his party`s stand on Yudhoyono`s decision to name Boediono his running mate.<>

He said that PKB was the first to state its readiness to coalesce with the Democratic Party and now it was also the first party in coalition to support the SBY-Boediono pair.

In connection with the decision of PKB`s national working meeting which decided to propose Muhaimin Iskandar as a vice presidential candidate, Andi said there was no problem with it.

Although the meeting proposed Muhaimin as a vice presidential candidate, it also left the decision up to SBY to decide on the vice presidential issues, he said.

"Muhaimin is sincere in leaving the vice presidential candidacy matter to SBY to decide in order to avoid discrimination with other party supporters. This is the best choice," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

On Tuesday, a number of lawmakers in the House of Representatives who are also cadres of political parties supporting Yudhoyono`s coalition held a meeting at the parliament building to discuss Yudhoyono`s reported plan to run with Boediono.

The meeting was attended by chairman of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction in the DPR Mahfudz Siddiq, PKS Secretary General Anis Matta, the United Development Party (PPP) faction chairman Lukman Hakim Saefuddin, the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction chairman who is also PAN secretary general M Najib and deputy secretary general of PKB Imam Nachrowi. (dar)