Dahlan Optimistic to Win Nomination as Presidential Candidate

Malang, East Java (Antara) - State enterprises minister Dahlan Iskan has said he is optimistic he has a chance to be nominated as a presidential candidate by the Democrat Party. "Based on the results of surveys by various institutions so far I have always been ranked first to win the nomination. Even the gap in vote results between the winner and the runner-up is very wide," he said on the sidelines of a thanksgiving gathering and presentation of the Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI) Award at a sugar factory in Krebet Baru, Bululawang, in the district of Malang, East Java, here on Sunday. He said right now the convention is still underway and a public debate to evaluate the integrity of candidates would also still continue several more times in different locations. After the one in Palembang the convention would be held in Medan (North Sumatra), Surabaya (East Java), Jakarta, Semarang (Central Java), Papua and others. Regarding rumors that he would resign from the convention Dahlan said that they were not true. "I did not resign but actually I would not like to take part in it. I participate because President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked me to. I would respect his request," he said. About rivalry Dahlan said that there is no rivalry in the convention, adding that participants are not rivals, adding what is important is to make the Democrat Party better. When asked if he would move to other parties if he failed to be nominated by the Democrat Party Dahlan said that he had no intention to do it because other parties have had their own candidates. "It is impossible for me to move to other parties except the parties still have no candidate," he said. Regarding who he would choose as his running mate later he were chosen as a presidential candidate Dahlan said that the process of convention is still long and so the important thing to do now is passing it. Moreover other parties' candidate also have not yet determined their running mates except Wiranto from the Hanura party who has nominated Hary Tanoesoedibyo. "Several other presidential aspirants and I have not yet determined our running mates as politics is very dynamic. Let us just wait for the progress," he said. Dahlan's rivals for Democrat Party's nomination include former army chief of staff Pramono Edhie Wibowo who is also President Yudhoyono's brother in law, trade minister Gita Wirjawan, former US ambassador Dino Pati Djalal and House Speaker Marzuki Alie. (*) reporting by endang sukarelawati