Hamzah denies media reports of his resignation

Hamzah denies media reports of his resignation

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and
Poverty Eradication Hamzah Haz denied on Friday media reports
saying he would quit the Cabinet.

But Hamzah acknowledged that he had told close friends of his
intention to resign, citing his preference of staying at the
House of Representatives as a deputy speaker.

"I once admitted to my ulema friends that I would rather
remain in an institution which controls the government. I would
rather stay close to my folks, but my appointment to the Cabinet
has prevented me in doing so," he said.

The ulemas, however, convinced him to hang on, he said.

Hamzah, who chairs the United Development Party (PPP), was a
deputy House speaker when President Abdurrahman Wahid named him a
minister. Hamzah also contested the vice presidential election,
but lost to Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He said his intention to resign was fueled further by
Abdurrahman's controversial plan to open trade ties with Israel.

"But I was relieved when the announcement that the government
suspended the plan was issued by the foreign affairs minister,"
Hamzah said.

Media reports speculated that his resignation plan was linked
to the President's recent disclosure that he prepared
replacements for three Cabinet members for their alleged
involvement in corruption, collusion and nepotism practices.

Abdurrahman blamed the media on Thursday for inciting a public
craze over seeking the names of the ministers.

Hamzah insisted on Friday that he was clean and never received
any money from the high-profile scandal involving Bank Bali.

"I denied any allegations that I was involved in the Bank Bali
case," he said.

But he acknowledged that some anonymous people had made
donations to his party. "I don't think that could be called
corruption," he said.

Separately, PPP executive Aisyah Aminy suggested that Hamzah
call an internal party meeting to clarify the subject.

Aisyah said she did not think Hamzah would resign, but if he
planned to, the reason would be his fear of an internal dispute
over the House deputy speaker post he vacated.

As the party chairman, Hamzah has the privilege to choose his
replacement for the legislative post.

"He (Hamzah) is very concerned about the current tension
between the two major factions in the party. The election of a
new deputy speaker is long overdue," Aisyah said.

Aisyah was referring to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muslimin
Indonesia, which have always struck a fair power-sharing deal to
maintain the party's unity.

Hamzah is an NU member.

Aisyah said she believed that Hamzah was not involved in the
corruption cases and suggested he stay in the Cabinet.

"His position as a coordinating minister in the Cabinet is
important, not only for Hamzah Haz personally, but also for PPP,"
she said.

Apart from Hamzah, PPP's presence in the Cabinet is
represented by Zarkasih Nur, who was named the cooperatives,
small and medium enterprises minister.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, meanwhile, acknowledged the
disparity between Cabinet members on certain policies taken by
Abdurrahman.

"It's very possible for Hamzah to argue with his superior
(President Abdurrahman) about a certain policy. That is
completely normal in political life," Akbar said. (02)