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