Discord over 'syariah' causes PPP to split

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The cause of an impending split in the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) is not only a dispute over the party's congress, but also due to differences over a proposed adoption of Syariah (Islamic law), one of PPP's members said.

Djafar Bajeber said on Sunday that the reform-minded members who want to split have decided to declare the establishment of a new party called PPP-Reformasi this month because they were disappointed with the state-of-the-party speech by PPP's chairman Hamzah Haz.

Hamzah's remarks included an insistence on postponing the party's national leadership congress from 2003 to 2004 at PPP's 29th anniversary celebration in Surabaya on Saturday. According to the frustrated members, the change is not consistent with PPP regulations and therefore a violation.

"We held a meeting on Saturday night and decided to declare PPP-Reformasi as an official organization on Jan. 27 with the noted Muslim cleric Zainuddin M.Z. as our leader," Djafar told The Jakarta Post, adding that the meeting was held at Zainuddin's home.

Djafar said that, in addition to Zainuddin, many of PPP's senior members like Saleh Khalid, Zainal Maarif and Chaeruddin also attended Saturday's meeting.

Zainuddin, who initially planned to officially inaugurate the new party on Jan. 5, decided to wait for Hamzah's speech. Hamzah failed to appease frustrated members and the speech apparently provoked the splinter group to go ahead with their plan.

"We will inaugurate the central executive board of the new party in Jakarta on March 15. We are positive that many current PPP constituents will join us because they have respect for pak Zainuddin," Djafar said.

Djafar added that the technicality of the congress was not the only reason for the establishment of the new party. But he quite candidly admitted that there are many differences of principle between some members and Hamzah.

"For us, the struggle to implement Syariah (Islamic law) in Indonesia is no longer popular. There are many other problems that we have to deal with such as economic recovery and to maintain national unity than the Islamic Law," Djafar remarked.

This is completely different from Hamzah, who has been accused of using his power as Vice President to push for the implementation of Islamic law nationwide to lure conservative Muslim voters into the party.

Djafar further declared that Zainuddin is a pluralistic leader and has every intention to establish a party with a more "Indonesian" quality (many religious ideas, many ethnic groups) than the current PPP.

"Another issue is about transparency. We all know there is something wrong with the probe involving Bulog (State Logistics Agency), but Hamzah prefers to see the case forgotten in the House of Representatives," Djafar said, referring to the high- profile case which allegedly involves House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

The case deals with a special investigative committee at the House over the alleged misuse of Bulog funds during the 1999 general elections, and PPP has been named as one of the recipients of the money. That is why they refused to form a special committee, according to Djafar.

"We always had our doubts about Hamzah's evasive, incomplete explanation regarding the origin of party funds," he further charged.

"The new PPP-Reformasi will be different, we will be transparent and publicly disclose all the funds we receive. We will not be like Hamzah who never really mentioned the source of the party's funds," Djafar added.

The establishment of the new party will mark the first actual political party split since the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998.

Another Muslim-based party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) currently also faces similar conflicts, but they are still striving for reconciliation.

Last year, another Muslim-based party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) was also rocked by threats of a split over a difference of opinion with Chairman Amien Rais.

It was reported by Satunet.com that PPP deputy chairman Faisal Baasir expressed regret over the move and urged the splinter group members to channel their aspirations into the organization and to refrain from immediately forming a new party.