Sutiyoso showing great courage by intending to run for president: politician

"The declaration without the support from any political party shows he has great courage," Suaidy Marasabessy, associate chairman of Hanura (People`s Conscience) Party, said here Tuesday.

Suaidy, a former chief of the National Defense Forces (TNI)`s general staff, said Sutiyoso made the declaration while he was still serving as Jakarta governor to precede other presidential hopefuls and considering that in developed countries candidates who succeded in becoming president were those who once served as governor.

According to Suaidy, Sutiyoso`s development policies when serving as Jakarta governor had weaknesses which could be targets of criticism from his political rivals.