Hamzah woos young members of PPP<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Incumbent United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz promised on
\nTuesday to give more positions to younger members in the party if
\nhe won his bid for reelection.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the opening of the party's congress here, Hamzah,
\nwho is the vice president, said young leaders were in demand to
\nboost the party's competitiveness during the elections.<\/p>\n
\"The number of parties that will join the election is
\nincreasing, so we must have new blood to lead the party in order
\nto be more competitive,\" said Hamzah.<\/p>\n
PPP won 12 percent of the vote, in third place after
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and
\nGolkar Party, to earn 58 seats in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who was elected in 1999, has been touted to win a
\nsecond term. Hailing from Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama,
\nHamzah will face a stiff challenge from Bachtiar Chamsyah, who
\nrepresents another faction in the party, Muslimin Indonesia,<\/p>\n
Like Hamzah, Bachtiar is also in the Cabinet as Minister of
\nSocial Affairs.<\/p>\n
The competition between the two figures has been fierce even
\nbefore the congress. Hamzah is largely supported by the old guard
\nwhile Bachtiar claims to represent the young generation.<\/p>\n
The congress has been moved forward from its original schedule
\nin 2004, following demands from younger cadres. Hamzah bowed to
\nthe demand after a group of party members under Zainuddin MZ
\nbroke away and set up their own party.<\/p>\n
In response to Hamzah's move to woo younger cadres, Bachtiar
\nsaid he was ready to run for the chairmanship.<\/p>\n
Given his considerable support from the young generation,
\nBachtiar expressed confidence that he would win the race.<\/p>\n
\"Even, Hamzah himself has urged more young members to take the
\nlead in the party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar asserted that his candidacy would boost
\ndemocratization in the party.<\/p>\n
\"We would like to see more than one candidates in the coming
\nelection, and it is up to the members to choose,\" Bachtiar said.<\/p>\n
Around 1,000 party members are taking part in the four-day
\ncongress, which is aimed at consolidating the party ahead of the
\n2004 elections.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who also chairs PDI
\nPerjuangan, and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien
\nRais, who heads the National Mandate Party, attended the opening
\nceremony of the congress. The two leading figures are possible
\ncontenders in the presidential election next year.<\/p>\n
Separately, political analyst Indria Samego said he was
\nskeptical that Hamzah's tactic to woo young party members would
\nwork.<\/p>\n
Indria, a researcher with the Indonesian Institute of Science
\n(LIPI), said that, on one side the tactic to lure young guns
\ncould help erode Bachtiar's political base. But on the other
\nhand, the move could draw strong resistance from the older
\nmembers, who could not accept the presence of their juniors in
\nthe party's inner circle.<\/p>\n
\"The support from the old guard remains important, because
\nthey usually have vast political networks,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hamzah-woos-young-members-of-ppp-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}