Vaudine England, Jakarta - Efforts by the Muslim-based political parties to offer a new presidential candidate are gathering steam, partly to avoid having a woman in the top job and partly to avoid what Muslim leaders label a "polarisation" of society.

But the ability of a combined Muslim force to find a candidate who is neither Megawati Sukarnoputri nor incumbent president Bacharuddin Habibie – the winner and runner-up respectively in recent parliamentary polls – remains in doubt.

Amien Rais, leader of the National Mandate Party, which secured less than 10 per cent of the vote in the June parliamentary polls, is leading moves to form a so-called "axis force" – a combination of his and several smaller Muslim parties.

If these parties can combine, they could gather a majority of seats in the prospective People's Consultative Assembly (the MPR) which must choose a president by November, thereby propelling a new candidate into the presidency.

But some are sceptical about the plan's chances. "As far as Islamic parties are concerned, they can work together, but if they have to decide among themselves [on a president], they will have difficulty," said Mohamed Fajrul Falaakh, a chairman of the country's largest Muslim organisation, the Nahdlatul Ulama. "So we have conflicting political interests leading in to the presidential election."

Achmad Syafei Maarif, acting chairman of the second biggest Muslim group, Muhammadiyah, believes that Ms Megawati's candidacy is hampered by more than her sex.

"Megawati was also a member of parliament for two terms before," he said. "It would be very easy to say that Megawati is part of the past regime."

Both men admit that there is no single block of votes representing Muslim interests, and the political map is further complicated by the fact that Abdurrahman Wahid, known as Gus Dur, is both chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama and leader of the National Awakening Party.

He is personally committed to supporting Ms Megawati's candidacy, but he cannot guarantee her the support of his Nahdlatul Ulama followers. "Even though the kiyai [Muslim preachers] won't cite a religious reason [against Megawati], they do consider other factors," said Mr Falaakh.

Many Muslims felt Ms Megawati was not progressive or reformist enough to bring real change to the country, he said. "She has been silent for several months, which demonstrates she is not sure what to say," he said. "So the question for the religious leaders is: is she is capable enough to manage high office?"