Muhaimin is not Interested in VP Posisition, Party's Chairman

Jakarta (Antara) - The General Chairman of National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar is not interested in filling the position as vice president, Chairman of PKB Abdul Wahid Maktub stated here on Monday. "I have talked to Muhaimin and he had confirmed to me that he did not want to run for vice president's position yet. Muhaimin wanted to concentrate on the party's interest first, to make PKB a bigger party in the future," Abdul clarified. However he admitted that there were several people within the party who want PKB to have a coalition with another party and the General Chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar, to run for the Vice President. According to various quick vote counts, PKB finished fifth in the legislative elections held last Wednesday (April 9), garnering more than nine percent of all votes. Based on the vote count, the three parties that won more votes than the remaining nine parties were PDIP, Golkar and Gerindra, and all of them have already named their presidential candidates. With regard to vice presidential candidates, Muhaimin Iskandar recently stated that his party will be realistic by choosing coalesce with other parties and name a vice presidential candidate only. He added that the party has many qualified members for vice president, including Rhoma Irama and Mahfud MD. He noted that PKB has already conducted intensive discussions with two presidential candidates from other parties, but he declined to reveal them since the process is still ongoing. He explained that PKB wishes to build an effective and permanent coalition based upon a common vision, mission, ideas and programs, and hopes that PKB will fulfill the promises that were made during the campaign, by participating in the future government. "Certainly, we will choose a position for which we have a chance to fill, namely the post of vice president," he pointed out. Asked if he is interested in running for vice president, he asserted there is a mechanism to determine the fittest for the post. "Am I fit for it? Let us just see," emphasized Muhaimin, who is the current manpower minister. (*)