QSAR, a pebble in the shoe for Hamzah Haz<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Support is mounting for Hamzah Haz to be reelected as chairman of
\nthe United Development Party (PPP), but his journey to the top
\nwill not be as smooth as expected.<\/p>\n
At least three provincial chapters questioned on Wednesday his
\naccountability speech presented in the ongoing party congress,
\ndemanding that Hamzah and other executive board members be more
\ntransparent in the high profile QSAR scandal.<\/p>\n
The three chapters were Bali, Riau, and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The controversial case was brought to light in the national
\npolitical scene last year, after agribusiness company PT Qurnia
\nSubur Alam Raya (QSAR) went bankrupt.<\/p>\n
PPP, the country's third biggest party, suffered a blow from
\nthe case, after news broke out that Tosari Widjaja, Hamzah's
\nconfidante, was one of the investors in the troubled firm.<\/p>\n
Tosari admitted that he invested Rp 5 billion of PPP's money
\nin the company.<\/p>\n
As the money vanished, Hamzah's opponents stepped up pressure
\nfor a thorough investigation into the scandal.<\/p>\n
The pressure resurfaced in the ongoing national congress,
\nwhich started on Tuesday, to elect a new chairman for the Muslim-
\nbased political party.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who is also the Vice President, has made clear his
\nintention to run for the post. Another party leader, Bachtiar
\nChamsyah, is also running for the party's top post. Chamsyah is
\nalso Minister for Social Affairs.<\/p>\n
The three provinces noted on Wednesday that Hamzah had
\ndeliberately omitted the QSAR scandal from his accountability
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
The Bali provincial chapter, for example, regretted that the
\ncase was not touched on in the accountability speech.<\/p>\n
\"An explanation must be given, otherwise the old executive
\nboard will be deemed both irresponsible and not transparent in
\nthis case,\" said Abdul Djalil, a member of Bali provincial
\nchapter.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih Noer, one of the party's top leaders who is close to
\nHamzah, explained later that the QSAR case had been solved and
\nthe Rp 5 billion had been given back to the party.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih, however, also said that the party was ready to set
\nup a team to clarify the matter.<\/p>\n
However, in general, the challenge was largely ignored by
\nHamzah's camp, given that only three out of 30 chapters raised
\nthe issue. They were confident that the challenge would not
\ndamage Hamzah's bid for the chairmanship.<\/p>\n
\"The majority of chapters still support Hamzah,\" said Tosari
\nWidjaja.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who was elected PPP chairman in 1999, has been touted
\nto win a second term. Hamzah will, however, face a stiff
\nchallenge from Bachtiar Chamsyah who claims to represent the
\nyounger cadres.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, hundreds of participants in the national meeting
\nlistened to presentations made by each chapter, in which each
\nchapter responded to the accountability speech.<\/p>\n
It was expected that the meeting would complete discussions on
\nthe rules and procedures on the election of chairman by Wednesday
\nnight.<\/p>\n
Separately, Hamzah supporters stepped up pressure against
\nBachtiar. The party's right wing Angkatan Muda Ka'abah (AMK)
\ndemanded Bachtiar withdraw from the chairmanship race on the
\ngrounds that he had minimal support.<\/p>\n
Chairman of AMK, Sofyan Usman, claimed that Bachtiar only had
\ngarnered support from four chapters, namely Riau, Yogyakarta,
\nWest Sumatra and Papua.<\/p>",
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