REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The United Development Party (PPP) was undecided about whether to form a coalition with the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party in the presidential poll as it was waiting for the result of the legislative election.

"The presence of (PPP chairman) Suryadharma Ali in Gerindra's campaign event was nothing more than a meeting between leaders of political parties," PPP deputy chairman Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said after a public discussion on "Presidential candidate/vice presidential candidate of traditional Muslim school students' choice" here on Monday.

Both parties had not signed a coalition deal, he said.

PPP will announce a decision on whether to forge a coalition with Gerindra after its national leadership meeting scheduled to be held after the April 9 legislative election, he added.

"We are waiting for the result of the legislative election. We will hold a national leadership meeting after the election to decide who will be nominated as the party's presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate," he said.

The candidates may come from within or outside the party, but PPP Chairman Suryadharma Ali appeared to be the strongest candidate from within the party, he noted.

He said PPP was open to a coalition with either other Islam-based parties or nationalist parties.

"PPP was open to a coalition with any other party so it may not be Gerindra only," he added.

PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali and deputy chairman of the party's expert council Djan Faridz attended Gerindra's campaign event at the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta, on March 23.

The Gerindra's campaign event was also attended by party chief patron Prabowo Subianto.

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