Proposal on PPP debate rejected<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ismail Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman of
\nthe United Development Party (PPP) and the leading candidate for
\nthe leadership election later this month, yesterday rejected
\ncalls by his rivals for a public debate ahead of the election.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan argued that such debates were \"unusual\" and had
\nnot been part of the party's tradition.<\/p>\n
\"Do you think we are roosters which can be set against each
\nother for the public to see?\" he told journalists when attending
\na seminar on the PPP future.<\/p>\n
He said he feared that the candidates would abuse the forum to
\nslander each other instead of presenting their views in a more
\nproductive fashion.<\/p>\n
The suggestions for PPP chairmanship aspirants to have a
\npublic, televised debate on the party's program came amid the
\nbitter rivalry between the various contenders.<\/p>\n
The candidates have been under intense scrutiny for their
\nobvious efforts to obtain endorsements from government and
\nmilitary officials instead of showing their independence.<\/p>\n
Rudini, a former home affairs minister and now a political
\nobserver, for example, has ridiculed PPP leaders' jostling to
\nmeet with President Soeharto for such endorsement.<\/p>\n
None of the five PPP nominees who are contesting the election
\nhave revealed what they would do to develop the party if they
\nwere elected.<\/p>\n
The precedent for apolitical public debate involving
\ncandidates was set by the minority Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) last year. But the then party chairman, Soerjadi, was
\nabsent.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan said he saw no use in bringing the contestants
\ntogether in a debate because local PPP leaders who have the right
\nto vote already know they were going to choose. \"Local leaders
\nare not too stupid to make their choice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Enthusiasm<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan's political foes yesterday expressed their
\nenthusiasm for the public debate proposal.<\/p>\n
\"The candidates should show their prospective voters what they
\ncan do for the party,\" said Yusuf Hasyim, a respected Moslem
\nreligious preacher who has expressed his interest in running for
\nthe party's chairmanship.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said all the candidates should go to the debate well-
\nprepared and not just read texts made by other people.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, who heads the law-making body of PPP's largest faction
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), is an ardent critic of Ismail Hasan's
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
Similar enthusiasm was expressed by candidate Hamzah Haz.
\n\"It's a good idea,\" he said. \"All candidates should have the guts
\nto present their views in such a debate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, a well-known economist and an outspoken legislator
\nfrom the PP faction, is actively seeking support from NU leaders
\nin the provinces for his candidacy.<\/p>\n
The one-day seminar will feature Moslem scholars, including
\nAli Yafie, Suroso Iman Zadjuli and Syafi'i Ma'arif, and is aimed
\nat defining strategies on how the Moslem based-party will be
\nbrought up to the upcoming congress.<\/p>\n
Ma'arif said that to win more votes in the 1997 general
\nelection, PPP should offer concrete programs to help eradicate
\npoverty, create job opportunities and improve education.<\/p>\n
\"Without initiating drastic measures to overcome such pressing
\nproblems, PPP will remain small,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Moslem religious scholars should be involved in major
\nactivities. He said the religious leaders have been involved only
\nin the five-yearly general election campaigns and in the party
\ncongress. (pan)<\/p>",
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