World Ulemas Pray for Indonesian General Elections

Situbondo, E Java (Antara) - Muslim scholars prayed for peaceful 2014 general elections that would produce the best leaders for Indonesia, during the International Conference at the Salafiyah Syafiiyah Islamic Boarding School here on Saturday. The prayer was recited by Prof Dr Wahbah Az-Zuhaily (Syria), Syaikh Mahdi As-Sumaidai (Iraq), and Syaikh Abdul Karim Ad-Dibaghiy (Algeria), according to secretary general of International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS), KHA Hasyim Muzadi, in a written statement released here on Saturday. Indonesia will hold legislative elections on April 9 and presidential elections on July 9, 2014. "The conference discussed many matters relating to domestic and foreign problems, including the war in Middle Eastern countries and conditions in post-reform Indonesia," Hasyim said. Hasyim further said that Indonesians will introduce the Indonesian ideology Pancasila, or five principles, to the world scholars. The two-day conference will last until Sunday, March 30. Further, General Election Commission (KPU) chairman Hasan Kamil Manik said the electoral body will perform prayers nationally, involving religious and community leaders, in the hope that the 2014 elections are successful. "If preparations for the general elections are made adequately, then we should pray to God in the hope that the elections can be conducted successfully," the KPU chairman said in Jakarta on Thursday, March 27. This year, the KPU ruled that 15 political parties in Indonesia were eligible to participate in the elections. Three of them are local parties in Aceh, including the Aceh Party (Partai Aceh-PA), the Aceh People`s Party (Partai Rakyat Aceh-PRA) and the Aceh Sovereignty Party (Partai Daulat Aceh-PDA). The remaining 12 parties are the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the Nation`s Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party (Golkar) and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra). Also included in the line-up are the Democratic Party (Demokrat), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the People`s Conscience Party (Hanura), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).(*) Reporting by Edy M Ya'kub (B003/INE/Yosep)