MUHAMMADIYAH PRAYS FOR JK-WIRANTO'S VICTORY

Jakarta, July 3 (ANTARA) - All members of Muhammadiyah have prayed for the victory of presidential hopeful Jusuf Kalla and vice Presidential aspirant Wiranto (JK-Win) in the upcoming presidential race, according to Muhammadiyah Chairman Din Syamsuddin.

"The members of Muhammadiyah pray for God's blessing to Jusuf Kalla to be able to lead this country for the next five years," Din Syamsudin said here on Friday before Jusuf Kalla and students of the University of Muhammadiyah.

Jusuf Kalla in his capacity as the vice president, on the occasion inaugurated a number of new buildings of the University of Muhammadiyah at Situgintung, Ciputat, Tangerang.

However, Din Syamsudin said that Muhammadiyah as an organization did not give support to a certain presidential candidate.

"But, in accordance with nine criteria set by the Executive Board of Muhammadiyah, only JK-Win pair meeting the requirements," the chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization, said.

Besides, of the three existing presidential candidates, only JK-Win who visited the Muhammadiyah office, he said. Therefore, he asked the Muhammadiyah members to support JK-Win.

Din Syamsudin earlier urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to be neutral and honor the people's trust in organizing the upcoming presidential election.

"KPU must be neutral toward the presidential candidates in this election because KPU is a bureaucratic organ the people must be able to trust," he said here on Friday.

Din Syamsudin made the statement in response to a KPU advertisement that favored a certain presidential aspirant.

"The KPU 's bureaucracy is beginning to support one of the presidential candidates, namely number 2. This should have never happened because it could harm our political structure," he said.

He also asked Muhammadiyah's members supporting certain political parties not to cause any conflict.

Indonesia is going to hold its second direct presidential elections on July 8, 2009.