Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP) has begun screening presidential hopefuls in a bid to select a candidate for nomination in the 2009 election.

But PPP chief patron Bachtiar Chamsyah said Wednesday the majority of his party still wished for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to retain power next year.

Bachtiar, also currently the people's welfare minister in the Yudhoyono administration, said the party invited presidential candidates to campaign for nomination so they could learn about their policies.

The PPP had already invited presidential candidates, including Prabowo Subianto, from the Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) and Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubowono X to discuss their policies.

Bachtiar denied the PPP demanded Rp 300 billion from candidates seeking the support of the Islam-based party. "There is no such practice in our party," he said.