VP under fire for 'political visits'<\/p>\n
SURABAYA: Vice President Hamzah Haz has been accused of
\nmisusing state funds in an early campaign for the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
East Java's vice chairman of The National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) Wahyudin Husein said on Tuesday that Hamzah was using
\npublic money to visit Islamic boarding schools throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
He accused Hamzah, also the leader of the United Development
\nParty (PPP), of carrying out disguised political campaigns for
\nhis political group long before the general elections in 2004.<\/p>\n
A similar criticism was also lodged by the local branch of the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN). It said Hamzah's political visits
\nto the province were \"not a sympathetic move\".<\/p>\n
\"What I am most worried about is that Hamzah has misused state
\nfunds for the interests of his PPP and it is clearly an unethical
\npolitical culture which is akin to the New Order's style,\"
\nWahyudin said.<\/p>\n
Using a helicopter, the Vice President paid a series of visits
\nto Islamic boarding schools across East Java, including those in
\nMadura, Sidoarjo, Probolinggo -- all known as PPP strongholds.<\/p>\n
Sources in the province said Hamzah's visits were in the
\ninterests of the party. That was why the East Java administration
\ndid not provide him with maximum security protection during the
\ntrips, they added.<\/p>\n
Local PPP official Ghozi Siraj denied the allegations, saying
\nHamzah visited the Islamic schools in his capacity as vice
\npresident in a bid to let the people know about the government's
\npolicies.--JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vp-under-fire-for-political-visits-1447893297",
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