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)