Jakarta – Indonesia's largest Islamic party – the United Development Party (PPP) – seems reluctant to openly support incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri for September's run-off, although party leader Hamzah Haz has been reported to have thrown his weight behind her.

Scores of PPP executives on Wednesday rejected a claim by Mr Pramono Anung Wibowo, Ms Megawati's aide and the deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (PDI-P), that their Muslim-based party would back her re-election bid.

PPP deputy leader Ali Marwan Hanan would neither confirm nor deny Mr Pramono's statement. "Whatever decision concerning the run-off will be made after the final result of the poll is announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU)," Mr Ali said on the sidelines of a PPP board meeting on Wednesday.

PPP secretary-general Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said Mr Pramono's claim was his interpretation of what had transpired at a meeting between Mr Hamzah, who is Vice-President, and Ms Megawati. "I called him [Mr Pramono] last night and complained to him about the statement," he was quoted as saying by the detik.com news agency.

Mr Hamzah's campaign team leader, Mr Hazrul Azwar, said the PPP's decision on the candidate it would endorse would be made at a national meeting attended by the heads of all provincial chapters. Mr Pramono said earlier that the Vice-President had expressed his hope that Ms Megawati would win the run-off during a meeting with her on Tuesday.

Political observer Sukardi Rinakit believes the PPP will eventually back Ms Megawati. "Muslim-based parties like the PPP will surely support Megawati because if she is re-elected, her term will only last till 2009. Afterwards, they can nominate their own candidates with an Islamic orientation," he said.

The amended 1945 Constitution limits a president's tenure to two five-year terms.

On the other hand, if the PPP supports Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and he wins, the party's chances of fronting its own candidate in the 2009 race will diminish because the former security minister would have a good chance of being re-elected, said Mr Sukardi.

Meanwhile, the KPU has said it is preparing for the second round of the presidential race although the official result of the July 5 polls will be announced only on July 26.