The influential chairman of Indonesia's national assembly says his chances of winning the presidency in 2004 have been greatly improved by the assembly's decision to hold direct elections for the post.

"To be honest, with direct elections my chances have become much better," Amien Rais told Tempo magazine in an interview published Monday.

The People's Consultative Assembly chaired by Rais this month approved a constitutional amendment allowing the president and vice president to be elected by the people in 2004. Presidents and vice presidents have previously been elected by the assembly.

The People' Mandate Party headed by Rais won only seven percent of the vote in the 1999 general election. But Rais noted that he secured 60 percent of the assembly's vote later that year to secure its chairmanship.

He said incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri would be his toughest oppostion in 2004. "I see Megawati still as the strongest competitor. There are still a lot of fanatical supporters of Megawati," Rais said.

The assembly chairman said many of these would back her regardless of her current performance. "I will rely on my own track record. I will convince everyone that if I am entrusted with leading this country, I will do my best and my utmost," he said.

However, Rais said he has not yet planned his presidential campaign or worked out how to finance it. Megawati has not announced whether she will seek a second term.

The prospects of another possible contender, parliament speaker Akbar Tanjung, have been damaged by his current corruption trial. He proclaims his innocence and no verdict has yet been delivered. The assembly led by Rais in July last year sacked President Abdurrahman Wahid for alleged incompetence and appointed his vice-president Megawati to replace him. But this month the body clipped its own wings and will now only be a consultative body.