Hamzah Haz: A politician with good survival instinct

Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, korpur@yahoo.com

It has always been a customary routine for Indonesia's presidents after Soekarno, all Muslims, and five vice presidents, including Megawati Soekarnoputri, to attend nationally organized Christmas celebrations as well as annual ceremonies celebrating Buddhism and Hinduism.

That formality of that routine was nearly interrupted last Christmas. It was unbelievable for many that Vice President Hamzah Haz would attend the national Christmas celebration on Dec. 26. The chairman of the Muslim-oriented United Development Party (PPP) seemed to be among those who thought it was sinful for Muslims to convey Christmas greetings to Christians and Catholics.

But they were proven wrong. The Vice President attended the Christmas ceremony along with his first wife Nani Hamzah. But the fear over his expected absence may be a reflection of his image as an intolerant Muslim leader among non Muslims or even possibly among moderate Muslims.

This view is still debatable; there are others who argue that Hamzah is the defender of most Muslims in this country, and that suspicions about him are only felt by a small group of people.

The Vice President consistently expresses his critical attitude toward the U.S., especially after the Sept. 11 tragedy. In commenting about the tragedy, Hamzah was quoted by the press as saying, "Hopefully, the tragedy can cleanse the sins by the U.S.."

Hamzah knows very well how to play to the deep-seated disappointment, denial and anger of Indonesian Muslims over what they see as allegations without strong evidence from the U.S., that terrorists exist here. Other leaders, like Megawati and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais appear hesitant to stand up to Washington.

Like it or not, in the absence of the voices of other leaders, Hamzah succeeds in at least appearing as a strong defender of Indonesia against foreign pressures and hostilities. Abdurrahman Wahid is an internationally respected Muslim intellectual, especially when he was still chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). However, after his fall from the presidency last year, his voice has become much less effective, and his fall has also affected NU's self-confidence.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), co-founded by Abdurrahman, is also affected by the NU situation. Amien's party, the National Awakening Party (PAN), is also less effective given its relatively small number of seats in the House of Representatives.

When leaders of the two largest Muslim organizations, NU and Muhammadiyah started to jointly speak up following the strong rhetoric from Muslims in the wake of Sept. 11, they eventually gained an international reputation as the country's moderate Muslim leaders. However, they still need more time to reach the credibility that Abdurrahman enjoys within the international community.

As for Hamzah, he does not want to appear to be a hypocrite, although he is also often inconsistent. In the case of Megawati, he had to swallow his own words. In the presidential election in 1999, citing Islamic teachings, he said a woman could not become president. Nearly two years later he supported her as Abdurrahman's successor. Hamzah also shows a confusing stance on the necessity to include the sharia in the amended Constitution.

He never tries to hide the fact that he has two wives. Hamzah puts his doctorate title in official documents, although it is only an honorary degree from a little known university in the U.S. Megawati, who received an honorary doctor of law from Japan's prestigious Waseda University last year, never uses her new title.

His first foreign guest after his swearing-in as the country's ninth vice president last July was from Libya while on the same day President Megawati received the U.S. ambassador for Indonesia.

Hamzah openly shows his sympathy to Laskar Jihad leader Jafar Umar Thalib, most recently, when the latter was detained by police. He also met with Indonesian Mujahidin Council leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. His attitude has sparked controversy, but he may be right when he said that he met with them as Muslim brothers. Hamzah is ready to accommodate the aspirations of outspoken Muslim organizations.

Hamzah is a veteran politician, and knows very well how to survive. He was able to endure and thrive during Soeharto's 32- year dictatorship. He was a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from 1971, representing NU, from 1973 to 1998 he represented PPP. Only three parties were allowed under Soeharto, including Soeharto's party Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and PPP.

The fact that he could maintain his seat in the legislature for consecutive 27 years, while the military used to tightly scrutinize PPP members, proved his political skill. As he served a long time with the House's State Budget Commission, Hamzah is well-known for his knowledge of the economy. For years, he regularly wrote articles on the economy for Kompas daily.

When B.J. Habibie replaced Soeharto in May 1998, he appointed Hamzah as state minister of state enterprises. In December that year, he was elected to chair PPP. One month before the general elections in June 1999, he resigned from the Cabinet.

Born on Feb. 15, 1940 in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. He failed to finish his studies at the Faculty of Economics, Tanjungpura University, in Pontianak.

Some political analysts, like Arbi Sanit, have pointed out that Hamzah has already started campaigning for the 2004 presidential elections. Among Muslim-oriented political parties, so far he is likely the strongest candidate for the next president.

He now is no longer just the leader of PPP or Islamic society. Along with Megawati, they are considered to be the parents and protectors of the whole nation. Hamzah's credibility is now being tested -- is he able to safeguard all highly diverse Indonesians, regardless of religion, ethnicity and other backgrounds?

Eventually, it will be much more difficult for him to convince the international community of his impartial leadership, if he does not improve that image right now.

The nation needs Hamzah Haz. As vice president, he is too close to the top to be anything less than a statesman. He has shown himself as a populist leader, and he now needs to show his statesmanship.