Some Islam-based parties are pushing for a political coalition to win next year's elections, but others are questioning the relevance of such a sectarian alliance to nurture Indonesia's democracy and pluralism.

The Islamic coalition, similar to the axis force that won Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid the presidency in 1999, is driven to reform the poor image and performance of the majority of Islam-based parties in the post-reform era.

It will also act as a strong political vehicle for Muslim politicians who require significant support in order to nominate a presidential candidate under a strict new law.

Parties have been under pressure to merge since the law ruled that only a party or coalition of parties with 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives, or 25 percent of popular votes in the legislative elections, would be able to contest the presidential election.

All Islamic-based parties garnered less than 10 percent of votes during the 2004 legislative elections. Only the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) managed to grab about 10 percent of the votes each.

Recent surveys found all Islamic parties, except for the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), would see a significant drop in votes in the 2009 elections.

"We need to form a strategic coalition to make ourselves heard. This coalition of Islam-based parties will have the same platform for strategic issues relevant to the Islamic community as a whole," Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin, who initiated the alliance, said at a discussion Thursday.

The discussion, hosted by the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilizations (CDCC) which is also led by Din, was attended by representatives from major Islam-based parties and organizations.

They included National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, Azrul Azwar of the PPP, Hamdan Zoelva of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Busroh Zarnubi of the Star Reform Party (PBR).

At a separate forum Thursday the National Sun Party (PMB), founded by Muhammadiyah figures and activists, declared Din its presidential candidate.

"Pak Din is what the nation needs. He is an excellent alternative candidate," PMB chairman Imam Addaruqutni said in a speech announcing his party's presidential nomination.

Din, speaking at the CDCC discussion, said a strategic coalition is needed for Islam-based parties so they can offer an alternative and challenge the nationalist parties, especially Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), in the upcoming elections.

The PDI-P has nominated Megawati Soekarnoputri as its presidential candidate while Golkar will likely back a re-election bid for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Hamdan and Azrul said their parties would support the Islamic coalition to promote stronger action for the interests of Muslims.

Amidhan, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Tuty Alawiyah, a former religious affairs minister and current chair of a national communication forum for Islamic gatherings, agreed that the discussion should be immediately followed up by action to push for the coalition.

Muhaimin welcomed the establishment of an Islamic coalition, but could not say whether the PKB would join the alliance.

"We need this coalition not for the 2009 elections but for the longer term," he said without elaborating.

Busroh quickly criticized the Din-proposed coalition, saying the pluralist country did not need sectarian politics.

"It will break up the country. Why do we need a dichotomy of Islam and nationalists while most of us are Muslims?," he said.

Opposition was also voiced by the PKS which questioned the relevance of such a sectarian political approach.

"What we need most is a strong government to accelerate our development. I doubt that such a coalition will contribute to that objective," senior PKS politician Mahfudz Siddiq said in a text message to The Jakarta Post.

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