Hamzah set

Hamzah set
to take
pre-election
campaign holiday

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz sparked more controversy on Saturday by
announcing his plan to take a leave of absence as the President's
second-in-command during the election campaign in 2004 to focus
on his United Development Party (PPP).

Speaking to the press after inaugurating the State Islamic
University here, Hamzah said he would not utilize state
facilities or security escorts during his one-month leave for
party commitments.

"It's the government arrangement and I think that's the way
the principle works," Hamzah said.

Hamzah had previously incited public debate when he visited
Muslim hardline figure Ja'far Umar Thalib, who was arrested for
allegedly provoking violence in Maluku and insulting the
President.

Article 108 of the draft law on elections, which will soon be
submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation,
stipulates that political parties are not allowed to involve
public officials, including the President, Vice President,
Supreme Court justices, leaders of the Supreme Advisory Board,
the Supreme Audit Agency, Cabinet ministers, Bank Indonesia
Governors and their deputies, provincial governors or state
enterprises directors in election campaigns.

The existing 1999 election law applies the same ruling, but
some public officials who hold important positions in political
parties have come up with a loophole by taking a leave from their
respective posts. Then minister/state secretary Akbar Tandjung,
who chairs the Golkar Party, was an exception as he resigned from
the Cabinet before the 1999 election campaign.

Hamzah, who will bid for the presidency in 2004, said party
leaders who held state positions would have to take a leave,
during which they could not use state facilities, to carry out
party-related tasks during the election campaign period.

Apart from Hamzah, the Cabinet of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri incorporates many party leaders, including herself
who leads the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra who chairs the
Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Defense Minister Matori Abdul
Djalil who heads a largely unrecognized splinter group of the
National Awakening Party (PKB).

Hamzah's controversial plan was immediately challenged by
constitutional law expert Harun Alrasyid.

The University of Indonesia professor said Hamzah's absence
would disrupt the running of state affairs.

"By law, the Vice President's job is to assist the President
in carrying out the day-to-day state duties, as well as to
represent or to replace the President should she become unable to
perform.

"It would be downright ridiculous if the President had to work
alone while the Vice President was on leave for his own
business," Harun told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Harun said that both the President and Vice President are
allowed by law to take a leave only upon a recommendation from
their doctors.

"Moreover, I think it's quite premature for him (Hamzah) to
arrange a holiday as the general election campaign remains more
than a year away," Harun, a former member of the General Election
Commission, said.