Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – National Assembly chairman Amien Rais has quietly begun lobbying for the coveted presidential seat in 2004, making regular tours of Indonesian provinces as part of his safari politics to broaden his grassroots appeal.

Over the last two months, sources in his National Mandate Party (PAN) said he had made trips to Surabaya, Malang, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Lampung and Ujung Pandang to meet leaders and supporters of two of the largest Muslim groups in the country – the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah. "He is making an effort to improve his reputation especially with the NU," said Mr Sutan Ambia Boestam, a senior PAN legislator.

While he is almost guaranteed the support of the Muhammadiyah, which he once used to head, analysts believe there is little chance of that happening with the 30-million-strong NU, especially after he played a leading role in toppling its leader and former President Abdurrahman Wahid.

But some PAN sources maintain that given the three-year interval to the next election, Dr Amien would be well able to "cultivate the ground" ahead of polls. A political analyst noted: "He is working the ground now without the knowledge of his opponents, most of whom are preoccupied with political problems."

Sources told The Straits Times Dr Amien was also hoping to bring together the leaders of the NU and Muhammadiyah in a forum later this year to boost his credibility and that of his party.

In his visits to the provinces in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, he took pains to portray the image of PAN as a party free of internal conflict compared to its rivals – the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP).

Indeed, after weeding out the more secular elements like Mr Faisal Basri from the party, PAN has projected a united front. It has also appeared more Islamic in orientation to win over the Muslim votes.

The strategy now is to go beyond wooing Indonesia's middle class voters and do better than the fifth position it secured in the 1999 election. Dr Amien himself acknowledged in an interview with The Straits Times several months ago that he saw PAN getting at least 20 per cent of the votes – more than double the figure it got last year – in a general election that would give him the "legitimacy" to make a presidential bid.

PAN members said the safari politics of the US-trained academic would also serve him well in the event of a direct presidential poll. "Don't underestimate Amien Rais," said a PAN legislator. "He has shown that he is adept at playing politics. He has brought down three presidents in the last three years ... with some luck and the backing of the Muslims, he could rise to the top."