By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Correspondent

JAKARTA, July 16 (IslamOnline) - Senior politicians from Muslim-based parties met again on Monday, July 15, in Jakarta to counter a coalition between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party, the two largest political parties.

The meeting, held at the Al-Azhar mosque complex in South Jakarta, sparked fresh worries that political parties would be polarized into nationalist and Islamic groupings ahead of the 2004 elections as occurred in 1970s.

Similar gatherings have taken place since May with senior Muslim leaders, including People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais, and many others from political parties and various Muslim organizations attending.

The recent meetings, including the latest informal gathering Monday, fueled speculation that Muslim leaders were trying to establish an Islamic alliance to improve ties and challenge the nationalist-oriented PDI Perjuangan.

At the same time, PDI Perjuangan, which President Megawati Soekarnoputri currently leads, has apparently formed a coalition with Golkar ahead of the MPR's Annual Session in August, expected to finalize the fourth package of constitutional amendments.

The two largest parties reportedly agreed in a backroom deal last week that a deadlock must be avoided in the constitutional amendment process at the Annual Session after the PDI Perjuangan ended its resistance to a direct presidential election.

Similarly, the newly allied Muslim politicians discussed equally contentious issues such as the direct presidential election, the composition of the MPR, education and religious affairs.

Monday's meeting, the fifth since May, was attended by eleven Muslim politicians from the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice Party (PK).

Most of the participants are members of the MPR's ad hoc committee in charge of deliberating on the amendments of the 1945 Constitution.

The four-hour meeting was used to discuss Articles 29 and 31 of the Constitution which deal with religious and education affairs.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Luthfi and Yusuf told journalists that all the participants approved Alternative 3 in Article 31 that says the national education system should improve people's religious faith and devoutness and their noble character as well as sharpening their minds.

However, the politicians were divided on two alternatives offered in Article 29 on religion.

The PKB and Reform Faction, which consists of PK and PAN, supported the wording that stated, "...The state shall be based on One God with followers required to carry out religious teachings according to their respective faiths..."

Meanwhile, the PPP and the PBB supported a provision, under which the state is based on One God with Muslims required to carry out their religious teachings.

However, the Muslim politicians all backed a provision also in the Article 29 that said the state would guarantee freedom for individuals to practice their respective religions and perform rituals according their own faiths.

Two years ago, Muslim minority factions proposed the adoption of sharia law in the Constitution to give an umbrella for laws regulating Muslims' religious life.