Hamzah and Saefuddin named as candidates for PPP chair

Hamzah and Saefuddin named as candidates for PPP chair

JAKARTA (JP): The Lampung chapter of the United Development
Party (PPP) on Friday named State Minister of Investment Hamzah
Haz and State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin as
potential candidates in the party's forthcoming leadership race.

Chapter chairman Sadeki Yakub was quoted by Antara as saying
from Bandarlampung that the two ministers "deserved" the number
one position in the party, replacing incumbent Ismail Hasan
Metareum.

Sadeki, however, said that the chapter had yet to decide which
of these former legislators of the Moslem-based party would be
nominated at its congress in December.

Predominantly Hindu Bali was rocked by protests in October
against Saefuddin over remarks considered contemptuous of the
religion.

In comments on next year's presidential election, Saefuddin
said that he would make a better presidential candidate than
Megawati Soekarnoputri of the splintered Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) because he claimed she was a Hindu.

Thousands of Hindu Balinese and Moslems have publicly
condemned Saefuddin's remarks.

PPP member Saleh Khalid, said here Friday that there should be
a direct election of the party's leadership and an open debate
between candidates in the coming congress.

"In the reform era, the party leader should be directly
elected," Saleh said, adding that appointing a committee to form
an executive leadership was a process open to abuse.

Saleh added that Saefuddin had expressed his readiness to lead
the party. Saefuddin, who expressed his intention to run for the
presidency in October, has challenged anybody aspiring to become
the next president to an open debate, to prove their mettle.

Leading opposition figure Amien Rais of the National Mandate
Party and Megawati have also named themselves as presidential
candidates.

Analysts believe PPP will suffer in the coming election due to
the blossoming of Moslem political parties following the
resignation of Soeharto in May.

PPP drew attention during the Special Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly last week when it vehemently rejected the
proposal to maintain the Armed Forces' (ABRI) representation in
the country's legislative bodies.

The other four Assembly factions supported the idea, although
they agreed on the gradual elimination of ABRI from legislative
bodies. (byg)