Ismail Hasan says `yes', finally<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Breaking his long silence, chairman of the
\nMoslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan
\nMetareum announced yesterday he would seek re-election.<\/p>\n
\"With God's blessing, I'm ready to continue leading PPP,\"
\nIsmail Hasan told journalists after meeting with Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan, who was elected PPP boss in a congress with
\nlittle government intervention five years ago, had been known to
\ncovet the second term but had refrained from publicly saying so,
\nuntil yesterday.<\/p>\n
PPP will elect its new board of executives during its
\nforthcoming national congress in Jakarta from Aug. 28 through
\nSept. 1.<\/p>\n
Described by his critics as a conservative politician,
\nIsmail Hasan has secured strong support from a number of PPP
\nleaders in the provinces.<\/p>\n
His nearest contender is Matori Abdul Djalil, his own
\nsecretary general, who has the support of the Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU), the largest of the four factions in the PPP.<\/p>\n
PPP is an amalgam of four Moslem organizations: NU, Muslimin
\nIndonesia (MI), Perti and Sarekat Islam. Ismail Hasan comes from
\nMI, which has dominated the leadership since the party was formed
\n21 years ago.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Antara reported yesterday that NU leaders in
\nEast Kalimantan have thrown their support for Matori.<\/p>\n
\"We will soon made a written statement to reaffirm our support
\nfor him,\" said Khairul Fud, chairman of the Samarinda branch of
\nPPP.<\/p>\n
Matori, now PPP's secretary general, was touring PPP offices
\nin East Kalimantan last week. He insisted he did not garner local
\nsupport for his election bid but rather to seek ideas on how to
\ndevelop the party. (pan)<\/p>",
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