Hamzah Haz plays down PPP Reformasi formation<\/p>\n
Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A splinter group of the United Development Party (PPP)
\ndeclared the founding of the United Development Party of Reform
\n(PPP-Reformasi) Sunday amid claims by PPP chairman and the
\ncountry's Vice President Hamzah Haz that the Muslim-based party
\nremained solid.<\/p>\n
A group of 17 party officials, led by noted Muslim cleric
\nZainuddin MZ, declared the establishment of PPP-Reformasi in a
\nmodest ceremony at a hotel in Senayan, Central Jakarta. The
\nparty's declaration was read out by one of the founders, Zainal
\nMaarif.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said the establishment of PPP-Reformasi was not because
\nPPP had broken up from within.<\/p>\n
"PPP is still solid. Those who wanted to split from PPP were
\njust individuals, not the PPP provincial boards or regency
\nchapters... there was no split," Hamzah told some 5,000
\nsympathizers of PPP during the 29th anniversary of its creation
\nat the Sudimampir Stadium in Cilegon, Banten.<\/p>\n
The Muslim-based PPP finished third in the 1999 elections.<\/p>\n
"One individual goes out of PPP, many others will replace him.
\nIntellectuals, artists, members of student bodies, a number of
\ncabinet ministers all have asked to join PPP," Hamzah said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
"They want to join us, not because of the leader, but because
\nof the programs and vision of PPP."<\/p>\n
The declaration of PPP Reformasi was witnessed by provincial
\nlegislators from 29 provinces and hundreds of sympathizers.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin, a staunch supporter of the move to set up the new
\npolitical party, joined the declaration ceremony after giving a
\nfiery speech to thousands of people at the Bung Karno sports
\nstadium, located near the hotel.<\/p>\n
The 17 officials of PPP Reformasi include Djafar Badjeber,
\nformer chairman of the Jakarta provincial chapter of PPP, former
\nPPP Central Java branch deputy chairman Zainal Maarif and former
\nPPP deputy secretary general Saleh Khalid.<\/p>\n
Following the declaration, Zainuddin told his sympathizers in
\na diplomatic manner that the party was not a competitor of PPP,
\nwhich is led by Hamzah.<\/p>\n
"The fact that the vice president (Hamzah) stated that PPP is
\nstill solid, and that there was never any friction within PPP, is
\na wise thing. We are two different parties with very different
\nideologies. That's all," Zainuddin said.<\/p>\n
The split followed demands lodged by Zainuddin and PPP's Young
\nTurks to change the party's board of executives before the 2004
\ngeneral elections.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin's camp maintains that the decision violated the
\nparty's statutes and that the congress should be held in 2003, a
\nyear before the general elections.<\/p>\n
Hamzah's faction insists that the party needed to consolidate
\nto prepare for the 2004 elections. They said a party congress,
\nwhich would result in a new leadership, would weaken the party.<\/p>\n
Hamzah has questioned the splinter group's move to exploit the
\nissue of syariah (Islamic law), as its reason to break away from
\nthe party. The splinter group supporters are known for their
\nsofter stance on syariah than PPP.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hamzah-haz-plays-down-ppp-reformasi-formation-1447893297",
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