Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – National Assembly Speaker Amien Rais has openly declared that he will quit the leadership of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in a move seen as a public relation gimmick to pave the way for him to contest the 2004 presidential election.

His pronouncement, which followed mounting calls for state officials to relinquish their party positions, sets clear his ambition as he joins a number of candidates for the presidential election.

So far, the most likely candidates include President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Vice-President Hamzah Haz and Parliament Speaker Akbar Tandjung, all of whom are chiefs of their respective parties. Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who also heads the Crescent Star Party, may join the presidential fray as well.

Mr Amien's proposal to end his party leadership may help set him ahead of his political rivals, who have been under fire for their unwillingness to give up their party posts. He told reporters recently: "I'm not joking about my plan to give up my position in the party. Give me one or two weeks to share this idea with my colleagues and there will be a decision."

But his proposal has met with objection from within his own party. PAN legislator Alvin Lie told The Straits Times: "Amien has officially told PAN central board of his plan and we think he is serious about it. But because the decision will have wider implications for the party, we will decide whether or not to accept it in a meeting with chiefs of provincial and regional party chapters on Sunday," he said.

Mr Alvin said most of the party executives did not support Mr Amien's proposal as they thought the party still needed him as a leader. "We do not want our party to rely too much on one figure, but we do think that PAN is not mature enough to survive without a strong leader like him."

He said his party was also concerned that Mr Amien's plan to resign might trigger a major shake-up in the regional and central leadership level. "Several of PAN party chapters chiefs also hold official posts in the lower level of the government, some are either mayor or local legislature speaker. Ethically, these people would have to give up their party positions too if Amien does. This would take up our energy and money, as we will have to hold party congress to elect new leaders."

But political analyst Rizal Malaranggeng dismissed Mr Amien's move and his party's seeming reluctance to let him go as "cosmetics" aimed merely to bolster his popularity. "Amien is riding on the anti-dual political role sentiment – he wants to seize the momentum to reinforce his image as reformist leader," he said.

And even if he did resign, Mr Rizal believes that he will still have a strong control over PAN. He said he saw nothing wrong with state officials doubling as party executive. In other more developed democracies, this practice is allowed, he said, adding that "power abuse could be done by any official".

He noted that in the past administrations, former president Suharto, Mr B.J. Habibie and Mr Abdurrahman Wahid also controlled their political parties. But they were not officially the chiefs of their parties.