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)