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Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Yusril Ihza Mahendra, chief of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB)`s law-making body, said on Thursday he was ready to run for the presidency in the 2009 polls.

"Since the past, I have been ready to run for the presidency and compete with other candidates in the next polls," he said.

Yusril, one-time minister/state secretary, asked the Indonesian people to support his second bid for the presidency.

He said he had yet to decide who would be his running mate.

"I have not made up my mind whether my running mate will be a bureaucrat, entrepreneur or militaryman. To be sure, he/she must be able to take responsibility, experienced, and familiar with the task of a vice president," he said.

One of the reasons why he was determined to run for the presidency was the myraid problems and challenges facing the Indonesian nation, particularly in the economic sector.

The economy was the propeller of the state`s life. Economic problems, if left unheeded, would disrupt all elements of the state`s life, either at home or abroad, he said.

The government must focus on developing the economy to address economic problems, including increased prices of basic necessaries and skyrocketing fuel subsidy as a result of the surging global crude prices, he said.

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