By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
Fusion in PPP fails, no change imminent: Analysts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The constant factional bickerings within the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) prove that the 1973 merge of its
\nfour original Moslem groups has miserably failed, two analysts
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Dr. Maswadi Rauf from the School of Social and Political
\nSciences at the University of Indonesia and Syamsuddin Haris from
\nthe Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), have studied the
\ndevelopment of the party which is scheduled to hold elections
\nlater this month.<\/p>\n
Both believe that under the current political system, which
\nallows only small leeway for the party, it is unlikely that it
\nwill be able to become more unified or grow any stronger.<\/p>\n
The two other political groupings, the government backed
\nGolkar and the populist Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), have
\nchallenged PPP recently.<\/p>\n
The analysts added that the preoccupation of PPP leaders with
\nfighting for their factional or individual interests, instead of
\nstruggling for the good of the party, will only lessen further
\npeople's sympathy for PPP.<\/p>\n
Both expressed doubt that change is imminent, despite claims
\nfrom several faction leaders that, given the opportunity to sit
\nat the party's helm, they will improve PPP's performance.<\/p>\n
\"Not one of them is qualified enough or looks able to bring
\nchange,\" Syamsuddin told The Jakarta Post, referring to several
\npeople who have been reported to have the opportunity to lead PPP
\nor expressed interests in doing so.<\/p>\n
They are the incumbent chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum; Hamzah
\nHaz (chairman of the PPP faction in the House of
\nRepresentatives); Matori Abdul Djalil (PPP Secretary General);
\nand Jusuf Hasjim (a senior NU politician and a member of NU law
\nmaking board).<\/p>\n
\"Some people said that PPP can grow stronger if it gets new,
\nstronger leaders,\" Maswadi said \"but I'm afraid it's not going to
\nbe the case, considering the vulnerability of our political
\nparties.\"<\/p>\n
PPP can only grow to be strong enough \"to attract supporters,
\nbut not too strong as to invite suspicion or become a threat\" to
\nthe political constellation here, he said.<\/p>\n
Frustrated<\/p>\n
PPP, the second largest political party, is the result of a
\nfusion of four Islamic parties in January 1973, namely the
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muslimin Indonesia (MI), Syarikat Islam
\n(SI) and PERTI. With over 35 million members, NU is by far the
\nlargest of the factions.<\/p>\n
Internal conflict centers mainly on the two dominant factions,
\nNU and MI, which are vying for the chairmanship. Ismail Hasan,
\nwho is seeking re-election and appears to have the support of the
\ngovernment, belongs to the MI fold.<\/p>\n
NU, frustrated that the PPP leadership has always eluded them,
\ndecided in 1984 to abandon party politics altogether and
\nconcentrate their attention on the promotion of Islamic
\neducation.<\/p>\n
However, with the PPP election approaching, many NU leaders
\nwho have remained active in the PPP have tried once again to
\nmuscle their way into the party's leadership.<\/p>\n
\"It's our turn now,\" K.H. Syamsuri Badlawi, a senior NU
\nleader, said in June. \"We promise we can improve PPP performance
\nin the 1997 general elections.\"<\/p>\n
Format<\/p>\n
Both Maswadi and Syamsuddin thought that the problem of
\nfactional bickering within the party cannot be easily avoided,
\nnor will they disappear with the upcoming election of a new
\nexecutive board.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the seats in the boards are allotted to the
\nfactions.<\/p>\n
\"Complete fusion only takes place in theory,\" Syamsuddin said.
\n\"The party will face the same bickerings unless they change the
\npolitical format first.\"<\/p>\n
\"The party was designed in such a way as to accommodate
\nvarious Moslem based forces, but to also coopt them that they
\ncouldn't grow strong enough to oppose the government,\" Syamsuddin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The limited space for movement keeps the political parties'
\nhands full with internal problems to reduce their control over
\nthe executive branch of power, he said.<\/p>\n
\"There is no time to discuss (among members of political
\nparties) about what the government's doing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Calming<\/p>\n
The frictions among PPP factions may seem to contradict some
\npeople's observation that Ismail Hasan's leadership has had a
\ncalming effect on the party. However, both analysts agreed that
\nthe bickerings do not necessarily prove Ismail Hasan's
\ninadequacy.<\/p>\n
Even if Ismail Hasan was not leading the party now, the
\nproblem would still have persisted, Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
\"This is an issue of groups' interests,\" he said. \"As long as
\nNU members, for instance, put their leaders upon a pedestal, then
\nthe party will have to deal with the friction.\"<\/p>\n
\"That shows you how great our government is,\" Syamsuddin said.<\/p>\n
Based on the \"vulnerable position\" of political parties, as
\nwell as the ties of traditions and culture within PPP, Maswadi
\nbelieved that it would take many years before PPP can resolve its
\nsquabbling<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps we're going to need another 25 years before we can
\nsee a more mature PPP,\" Maswadi said, adding that Ismail Hasan
\nhas done the best he could under the existing conditions.<\/p>\n
\"Let's not use an idealistic yardstick to measure our
\npolitical parties' performance,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin agreed that Ismail Hasan's low profile management
\nof the party had a calming effect, but still thought he failed to
\nreach many of the party's crucial political targets.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan failed, for instance, in molding the party's
\nidentity, Syamsuddin said, citing the contradictions between some
\nmembers' wish to turn it into an \"open\" party which can
\naccommodate any group, with those who claim it to be an \"Islamic
\nparty\".<\/p>\n
Furthermore, it lacks clear political vision, Syamsuddin said.
\n\"We have not seen the party be responsive enough to issues of
\nnational interest, such as the loan scandal at Bapindo or certain
\ngovernment policies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both analysts suggested that PPP leaders be more sensitive to
\nthe demands of the public which have become more critical, and
\nfacilitate changes in the society.<\/p>\n
\"They should make the most of the limited space that the party
\nis already granted,\" Syamsuddin said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/by-santi-we-soekanto-1447893297",
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