Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Merti Nusantara, an organization made up of 18 community groups representing hundreds of people, was established Wednesday to back Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Sri Hamengkubuwono's bid for the presidency next year.

"Eighteen community elements support the founding of the forum, from village officials and farmers, to artists," said Merti chairman Robby Hermawan. Robby added Merti's Yogyakarta office was just one of several branches established in all provinces across the country.

Following a community workshop last week, participants decided to set up Merti Nusantara in all 33 provinces in a bid to support the Sultan's candidacy, Robby said.

"It also serves as a forum from which to endorse the Sultan's presidential bid... because he is someone who can bring about culture-based changes."

He added the forum would gather as much support as possible for the Yogyakarta ruler through base groups spread out across the country, by organizing farmers' and craftsmen's meetings and holding popular events such as walks.

"We also offer a chance to residents, forums or individuals to support the Sultan," said Merti member Arif Wahyudianto.

Robby said based on Merti Nusantara's estimates of its potential member base countrywide, Hamengkubuwono could receive the support of 36 million voters in his bid to become president.

Since declaring at a pisowanan agung (grand meeting of the country's royalty) on Oct. 28 that he would run in the 2009 presidential election, Hamengkubuwono has received widespread support, including from hundreds of artists from Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java.

Robby also said Javanese migrants in 21 other provinces had also expressed their support for the Sultan by setting up the United Rainbow Nusantara Communication Forum (FKPNB).

Hamengkubuwono said Wednesday he was unaware of the founding of the Merti Nusantara forum to support his presidential bid. "I didn't even know about Merti Nusantara being set up," he said.

A recent poll suggests the most popular candidate team would be the one pairing Hamengkubuwono with former president Megawati Soekarnoputri as her running mate. However, the Sultan played down this possibility. "That's only the result of a survey so it's not really a big deal," he said.