Hamzah unchallenged in next PPP race<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz will likely retain his current top
\nposition in the United Development Party (PPP) without a
\nchallenge during the 2003 party congress as none of the party's
\nother senior figures are planning to contest the leadership race.<\/p>\n
He still appears to be the most powerful and influential
\nleader of the nation's third largest party, possibly paving the
\nway for a smooth reelection in the upcoming congress.<\/p>\n
Another contributing factor is that many of Hamzah's staunch
\ncritics from within PPP had quit the party and established a new
\none altogether, called PPP Reformasi, which noted Muslim cleric
\nKH Zainuddin M.Z. currently chairs.<\/p>\n
\"So far, we don't have other figures capable of challenging
\nPak Hamzah. As the Vice President, he has strong influence and a
\ngreater chance of reelection,\" senior PPP leader Tosari Wijaya
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
His statement comes as the PPP is convening a three-day
\nworking meeting in Jakarta this week to decide on the date of
\nnext party congress.<\/p>\n
Most provincial branches of the party and leaders of its
\ncentral executive boards, who attended the meeting, wanted the
\ncongress held in early 2003, one year before the next general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
PPP earlier decided to change the date from the 2003 schedule
\nuntil after the 2004 election, sparking staunch protests from
\nZainuddin's allies who then declared PPP Reformasi.<\/p>\n
Support for Hamzah's possible reelection also came from other
\nPPP leaders in Jakarta and a few provincial branches during the
\nworking meeting.<\/p>\n
East Java's PPP chapter voiced its explicit backing for Hamzah
\nto stay on.<\/p>\n
\"We agree with a proposal to hold the next congress in early
\n2003 on the condition that Pak Hamzah is maintained as party
\nchairman,\" a spokesman from the East Java PPP chapter stated
\nduring Tuesday's meeting.<\/p>\n
Similarly, PPP Secretary General Ali Marwan Hanan who is also
\nthe state minister of cooperatives and small and medium
\nenterprises, said if the party wanted to maintain its \"solidity\"
\nahead of the 2004 elections, there was no other choice except to
\nback Hamzah.<\/p>\n
\"The reelection of Pak Hamzah will be crucial in a bid to
\nstruggle for the party's interests in the 2004 election,\" Ali
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
Some party leaders in Jakarta and at regional levels also hope
\nto nominate Hamzah for president.<\/p>\n
Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah, a senior member
\nof the party's executive board, said Hamzah had to win a second
\nfive-year term to lead the party as he was still needed for the
\n2004 elections.<\/p>\n
Lukman Hakim Saefuddin and Chozin Chumaidy, both PPP
\nlegislators, said Hamzah's \"charisma\" and close relationships
\nwith the grassroots voters would make him unbeatable in the
\nupcoming leadership race.<\/p>\n
The Vice President had sparked controversy after he visited
\ndetained Laskar Jihad militant group leader Ja'far Umar Thalib
\nand Abu Bakar Ba'asyir who has been accused by Malaysia and
\nSingapore of having close ties with a regional terrorist network.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the visits were Hamzah's way of soliciting
\nsupport from Muslim hard-liners in the 2004 elections.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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