PARTY PARTY: A drumer and her band entertain members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) during the celebration of the party's ten anniversary at Bung Karno Sport Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) staged a show of force here Sunday as several presidential hopefuls sought to win support from the Muslim-based political group.

The party held a huge rally to mark its 10th anniversary at the Bung Karno sports stadium in Central Jakarta, with more than 100,000 supporters packing the arena.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will likely run for reelection in 2009, addressed the rally that came after the PKS won two gubernatorial elections in West Java and North Sumatra.

Other presidential hopefuls who showed up were former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso and People's Conscience Party (Hanura) chairman Wiranto and former Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung.

Also present were former PKS president and current People's Consultative Assembly speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono and many legislators.

PKS leaders told the rally that the party welcomed a coalition with any political parties and presidential hopefuls in the 2009 general elections.

"We are open to anyone wanting to be the country's next leader. Together we can bring our country toward advance and prosperity," said PKS chief patron Hilmy Aminuddin.

He said he appreciated Sutiyoso, Wiranto and Akbar for publicly declaring their readiness to contest the upcoming presidential election.

Anyone taking part in the election should uphold fairness and peace and should not discredit their rivals, Helmy added.

PKS president Tifatul Sembiring said the party would discuss coalitions with any political parties, pending the results of the 2009 legislative election.

"We are open to any parties as long as we share the same vision. We value plurality and respect those with different beliefs," he said.

He said the party had yet to decide its candidate for the next president but was optimistic of gaining 20 percent of the votes in the 2009 legislative election.

"We are upbeat about next year's election because we have succeeded in 88 of the total 150 regional elections."

"But we will see the results of the legislative election first before talking about forming a coalition and nominating someone to contest the presidential election."

He said all parties should open themselves to building coalitions because it was impossible for a single party to gain 30 percent of the votes.

"Any party winning the legislative election should unite with others to nominate a presidential candidate. The 1955 and 2004 elections proved that none of the parties could win the election with 30 percent of the votes."

The 1999 election, when the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) earned more than 30 percent of the votes, could not be seen as a benchmark because the poll was influenced by excessive "political euphoria" amid the start of the reform era, Tifatul said.

After the event, Sutiyoso said he admired the PKS for its hard-working cadres.

"The PKS has the potential to be in the top three in the next election, along with Golkar and the PDI-P. We can see the PKS efforts in regional elections; they managed to be the winner."

He said he was available for nomination by any party, including the PKS.

Another hopeful, Akbar Tandjung, said he would seek Golkar's support, but would turn to other parties if he failed.

"I expect Golkar to hold a convention and I hope to gain support through it. But if it doesn't work, I will seek other opportunities."

"The PKS's openness can be a good opportunity for any candidates seeking parties' support, and I will consider that option," he said.

Popular

Prabowo inaugurates construction of Majapahit palace replica

Indonesia sees hottest April in 40 years

Is Indonesia really ready to embrace dual citizenship?