PPP optimistic of winning 2004 polls<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) has
\nexpressed confidence it will win the votes of Muslims across the
\nnation in the 2004 general elections, despite the sprouting of
\nmany new political parties, including Muslim-oriented ones.<\/p>\n
\"We are not worried or threatened that many more political
\nparties will be competing in the 2004 elections ... we are
\ninstead quite optimistic that PPP can win the elections,\" deputy
\nchairman of the PPP's executive board, Bachtiar Chamsyah, told
\nreporters in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Thursday.<\/p>\n
PPP is currently chaired by Vice President Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
\"Our party is very old, and rich in the experience of
\npoliticking. This is one factor that works to the advantage of
\nPPP, in comparison to other new parties,\" Bachtiar, who is also
\nthe minister of social affairs, said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar quickly added that the establishment of PPP
\nReformasi, a splinter group from PPP led by noted cleric
\nZainuddin M.Z., did not trouble PPP.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Hamzah and Zainuddin reached an agreement not to
\ncondemn each other so as to avoid conflicts at the grassroots
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
Principally the two camps agreed to struggle within one
\npolitical stance, namely developing an Islamic party into a much
\nbigger political unity. -- Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-optimistic-of-winning-2004-polls-1447893297",
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