Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin has called for the formation of a new strategic coalition of Islam-based political parties to win next year's presidential election.

The central axis is intended to "maintain the political representation of Islam" in Indonesia, said Din, who has been touted as a presidential or vice presidential hopeful.

"Such a strategic coalition is urgently required in the presidential election, as both Islamic and Islam-based parties should ideally be represented by a single presidential or vice presidential candidate," he said via text message Wednesday.

He said the Islamic coalition would play a role as a "new central axis" toward the two forces – one controlled by the incumbents and another by the opposition group.

Not only will the new axis push for the "solidarity of Muslim voters", but it will also target swinging voters during the 2009 elections, Din said.

The political forces of Islam, scattered across many parties, should not become a "factor of weakness" for Muslims in Indonesia but instead bring strength for them through politics, Din said.

In the 1999 election after the fall of Soeharto, a central axis of Islamic parties advocated by former Muhammadiyah leader Amien Rais successfully campaigned to appoint Abdurrahman Wahid as the new president.