Jakarta – Respected Indonesian academic Nurcholis Majid, considered by many as a dark horse presidential candidate, is recieving growing support from the country's Muslim parties to compete with the three declared nominees, a party official said Saturday.

Zarkasih Nur of the Central Axis – a grouping of six Muslim parties – said Majid had by the weekend been assured of 64 of the 70 votes needed from members of the the national assembly to run for the nation's top post, the Bisnis Indonesia daily said.

Majid, 60, who holds a doctorate degree from the University of Chicago, is seen by most as a political neutral. He has not publicly declared himself and has been avowedly reluctant to plunge into politics.

Nur, an executive with the dominant United Development Party (PPP) said he was confident Majid "will receive constant support, not just reaching 70 votes but until the voice of majority."

"This is not the voice of the PPP but on behalf of the Central Axis. We will remain solid," he said.

The three declared canidates in the race for the presidency, to be decided on Wednesday, are incumbent President B.J. Habibie, popular opposition figure Megawati Sukarnoputri and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, a populist Muslim leader.