Scholars says Muslim voters in favor of Kalla, Wiranto

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 06/13/2009 4:04 PM  |  Presidential Election

Noted scholar Azyumardi Azra believes most Muslim votes in the upcoming presidential election will go to Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto.

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.

 

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.