PKNU supporters told to vote for JK-Wiranto pair

Magelang, NU Online
Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Ulema National Awakening Party (PKNU) KH Abdurrahman Chudlori (Mbah Dur) said that the supporters of PKNU would be encouraged to vote for JK-Wiranto pair in the 2009 presidential election.

Mbah Dur made the statement following his meeting with Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto at Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) Tegalrego, Magelang, Central Java on Tuesday (19/5).<>

Mbah Dur further explained that PKNU as a political party founded by senior NU ulema (clerics) would support the JK-Wiranto pair, saying among the presidential candidates, there was only one NU cadre willing to contest the July election, namely Jusuf Kalla.

"Of course we have coalesced with JK-Wiranto. The PKNU supporters will be encouraged to vote for JK-Wiranto pair. Because if JK-Wiranto won the presidential election, the position of religious affairs minister in the cabinet would certainly be held by NU cadre," Mbah Dur said.

Formerly, JK who is also chairman of the Golkar Party said that he had obtained the blessings of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leaders in his battle for the State Palace.

"I have got their blessings," JK said after meeting with leaders of the Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization at the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) heaquarters in Jakarta recently.

During his meeting with the NU leaders, JK was accompanied by chairman of the Golkar party faction at the House of Representatives Priyo Budisantoso and his brother-in-law Aksa Mahmud.

JK said that his meeting with the NU figures was aimed at cultivating relationship with NU in addition to asking for the blessings of the NU figures.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), as an NU member and presidential candidate, I have been able to meet with NU leaders to ask for their blessings," he said.

During the meeting, JK told the NU leaders about recent political developments in the country and what he would do in the future.

"We wish to ensure the preservation of strong national unity and cohesion and the enhancement of economic self-reliance by developing the people`s economy." he said.

JK said only through economic self-reliance would the Indonesian nation be able to win a respectable position in the world.

Meanwhile general chairman of PBNU KH Hasyim Muzadi expressed his satisfaction with the readiness of JK as NU member to take part in the much-awaited presidential election.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), there is a member of NU willing to run for president. Previously, he only ran for vice president and now for president. Let us hope he will be success and may God bless him," Hasyim said. (dar)