Amien Rais gives PPP cold shoulder

Amien Rais gives PPP cold shoulder

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Amien Rais has backtracked on an
earlier statement and now says he will not join the Moslem-based
United Development Party (PPP) after all.

Amien, chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah, also
said in a televised interview yesterday he would continue with
yet another plan to establish his own political party. This
particular party, originally called People's Mandate Party, will
be called National Mandate Party and will be formally declared on
Aug. 23.

"I don't want to be seen as someone who easily jumps from one
place to another," he said, adding that among his reasons for
abandoning the PPP was friction in the party caused by groups
that he said were busy furthering their own interests.

Amien did not name the groups but PPP was a fusion of Moslem-
based parties in 1983 and internal competition often emerged.

Amien was reported to have accepted an offer from some PPP
executives, including chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, to join the
party as chairman of its council of experts.

Despite the pros and cons, Ismail himself had also confirmed
the party executives' wish to embrace Amien, who has been known
in recent years to be an outspoken government critic. Later,
Ismail did not specify the post for Amien as expert council
chairman, but as the "leader" of PPP.

Only hours earlier yesterday, Ismail told reporters he was
confident that Amien would "be elected to lead PPP in the next
congress" rather than set up his own party.

"He has a good chance and there would not be any
administrative problem with his nomination. We have prepared
everything," he said.

Ismail said Amien's presence would "infuse" the PPP with
"fresh blood" and would lure other public figures. He said he was
confident Amien would boost PPP votes in the next general
election. (prb/swe)