Hamzah's win gets mixed reaction<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): People in the capital had mixed reactions to the
\nelection of Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development Party
\n(PPP), as the country's new vice president on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Many residents of Tanah Abang, where many Betawi (native
\nJakartan) people live, carried PPP's green flag and shouted
\n"Hamzah! Hamzah!" as they were driven around the area in pickups.<\/p>\n
Tanah Abang is one of the party's strongholds in the capital.<\/p>\n
The residents also bursts firecrackers on the side of a street
\nnear the Tanah Abang flyover.<\/p>\n
The residents here believe President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nand Vice President Hamzah Haz will be a dynamic duo.<\/p>\n
Other residents in the capital felt differently about Hamzah's
\nvictory.
\n"I'm sure they suit each other. I think they will be able to
\ncooperate well and improve this country," said Rahmat.<\/p>\n
Hamzah received 340 votes in the vice presidential elections
\nheld by the People's Consultative Assembly, defeating Golkar
\nParty chairman Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
"I voted for Hamzah because he's a member of the NU," Ardi, a
\ntaxi driver said, referring to the country's largest Muslim
\norganization, which was once chaired by former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Other residents said, while admitting they knew little about
\nHamzah, they rather have Hamzah as vice president than Akbar, as
\nthe latter chaired the Golkar Party, the former ruling party of
\nformer president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Esti, an employee at a foreign insurance company, said she
\nwould have liked former coordinating minister for political,
\nsocial and security affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
"He seems to have this firm attitude," she said.<\/p>\n
Agus, a manager of a private company, was also in favor of
\nSusilo, who lost in Wednesday night's second round of voting.<\/p>\n
But both Esti and Agus preferred Hamzah to Akbar as they
\nfeared the latter would bring a return of Soeharto's New Order
\nera.<\/p>\n
"Well, I think Hamzah and Megawati will make a good team.
\nMegawati is a nationalist while Hamzah is more religiously
\ninclined," Agus said.<\/p>\n
Most people, however, said it did not matter who the vice
\npresident or even the president was.<\/p>\n
"I don't care who leads this country. What is important is
\nthey make this country a better and safer place. Prices of
\ncommodities should not go up anymore and I should be able to send
\nmy children to school," said Bambang, a public minivan driver.
\n(hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hamzahs-win-gets-mixed-reaction-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}