PKB Renews Support for Rhoma's Bid for Presidential Candidate Nomination

Jember, E Java (Antara) - The Nation's Awakening Party (PKB) has renewed its support for the self-styled king of dangdut, Rhoma Irama, in his bid for the 2014 presidential candidate nomination. "The PKB's preference for the presidential candidate is Rhoma Irama, while (former president and current Indonesian Red Cross chairman) Jusuf Kalla represents the aspirations of several regional executive boards," PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Saturday. Yet, the party's central executive board will attempt to accommodate the aspirations of the various regional executive boards in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan province, he added. "Considering the hopes of the regional executive boards, some people have proposed the candidacy of Rhoma Irama, with Jusuf Kalla or Mahfud MD as his running mate. However, the decision on the final pair will be made only in the future," he noted. Asked about the extent of support from the 25 regional executive boards for the candidacy of Jusuf Kalla for the 2014 presidential election, he said: "It is not true that 25 regional executive boards support Jusuf Kalla. The truth is that 10 regional executive boards support him," he revealed. He noted that the party continues to promote the candidacy of the king of dangdut for the presidential election. "God willing, we will countinue to support Bang Haji Rhoma's bid for the country's top leadership position," he said. (*) Reporting by Fiqih Arfani