Hamzah set to take leave, focus on PPP election drive

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.