19 PPP chapters side with Hamzah

19 PPP chapters side with Hamzah

JAKARTA: Nineteen provincial chapters of the United
Development Party (PPP) threw their support behind Hamzah Haz as
chairman, saying they rejected any effort by irresponsible
parties to hold an extraordinary congress to challenge him.

Head of PPP East Java chapter Hafizh Maksum said on Saturday
that Hamzah's election was both lawful and democratic, and there
was no need to question it.

He boasted that there would not be a challenge.

To hold an extraordinary congress, PPP needs approval from
half of its 30 chapters and 300 branches nationwide.

The 19 chapters pledged allegiance to Hamzah after several
chapters, including that at Yogyakarta, proposed an extraordinary
congress, saying that the recent PPP congress here was tarnished
by money politics.

The opposing chapters are supporters of Bachtiar Chamsyah,
Hamzah's sole contender. He was defeated in the race for the
party's chairmanship. -- JP