Azyumardi, of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute, said Saturday
leaders of the country's two mainstream Islamic groups, Nahdlatul Ulama and
Muhammadiyah, had implied their support for Kalla and Wiranto, thanks to
incumbent Vice President Kalla's close ties with the two biggest Muslim
organizations, which claim some 70 million followers between them.
"Unlike in the 2004 presidential election, Muslim voters will be pooled to
Kalla as he is deemed as the only representation of Islam," Azyumardi, who is a
senior official at the vice presidential office, told state news agency
Antara.
Kalla is affiliated with NU, while his mother and wife come from Muhammadiyah
families.
Azyumardi said the decision by the wives of Kalla and Wiranto to wear jilbabs (Islamic headdress) would help
their husbands win votes. "Muhammadiyah and NU followers in the grassroots will
regard them as devout Muslims," he said.
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