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Kendari (ANTARA News) - Yusril Ihza Mahendra, chief of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB)`s law-making body, said the nation was now facing increasingly grave economic problems, especially as a consequence of the world oil price hikes.

"The Indonesian government is now facing a very serious dilemma. If the domestic fuel oil price is increased, the people will no doubt cry out. On the other hand, if the fuel oil price is not raised, the economy will continue to deteriorate and the state`s debts will swell," Yusril said in a political speech at a regional coordinating meeting of the PBB`s Southeast Sulawesi branch which was officially opened by Southeast Sulawesi Governor H Nur Alam, SE here on Friday.

Yusril said the economic crisis the country was now undergoing had nothing to do with the government`s ability to solve existing problems as part of the problems was a legacy of past regimes.

But if the present government was not smart enough in seeing all the problems, the country`s economy would slide into even worse conditions.

Asked about his readiness to run for the presidency in the 2009 general election, Yusril said if the Indonesian people supported his bid for the presidency, he would be ready to contest the presidential election.

"I have all along been ready to run for president and compete with other candidates in the coming polls," he said.

Yusril, a 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, an entrepreneur or a militaryman. To be sure, he/she must be able to bear responsibility, be experienced and familiar with the tasks of a vice president," he said.

One of the reasons why he intended to run for president was the myriad problems and challenges being faced by the Indonesian nation, particularly in the economic sector, he said.

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 the increased prices of basic necessaries and skyrocketing fuel subsidy as a result of the surging global crude prices, he said.

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