Coalition of Islamic Politic Determined to Unite Central Axis

Jakarta (Antara) - The Coalition of Islamic Politics is determined to merge all elements of the central axis, which is made up of Islam-based political parties, into a large coalition to channel Muslims' aspirations. "On behalf of the Coalition of Muslims, we urge leaders of the Islam-based political parties not to be trapped by political mathematics. Almost 32 percent of the votes (in the legislative election) were cast by the Muslim population," the coalition's executive chairman Bachtiar Nasir said at a press conference here on Thursday. Bachtiar claimed that he had accommodated the aspirations of Muslims at the grassroot level, who wanted Islam-based political parties to unite to nominate their own presidential and vice presidential candidates for the July 7 poll. Therefore, he added he invited well-known people from Islamic mass organizations and political parties to a meeting at a residence on Cikini Raya Street No. 24, Central Jakarta. He noted that the current political agreements between Islam-based political parties and nationalist political parties had been influenced by individual egos. "Therefore, we gathered Islamic figures to unite to elect their own presidential and vice presidential candidates," he said. (*)