Hamzah woos young members of PPP
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Incumbent United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz promised on Tuesday to give more positions to younger members in the party if he won his bid for reelection.
Speaking in the opening of the party's congress here, Hamzah, who is the vice president, said young leaders were in demand to boost the party's competitiveness during the elections.
"The number of parties that will join the election is increasing, so we must have new blood to lead the party in order to be more competitive," said Hamzah.
PPP won 12 percent of the vote, in third place after Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar Party, to earn 58 seats in the House of Representatives.
Hamzah, who was elected in 1999, has been touted to win a second term. Hailing from Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, Hamzah will face a stiff challenge from Bachtiar Chamsyah, who represents another faction in the party, Muslimin Indonesia,
Like Hamzah, Bachtiar is also in the Cabinet as Minister of Social Affairs.
The competition between the two figures has been fierce even before the congress. Hamzah is largely supported by the old guard while Bachtiar claims to represent the young generation.
The congress has been moved forward from its original schedule in 2004, following demands from younger cadres. Hamzah bowed to the demand after a group of party members under Zainuddin MZ broke away and set up their own party.
In response to Hamzah's move to woo younger cadres, Bachtiar said he was ready to run for the chairmanship.
Given his considerable support from the young generation, Bachtiar expressed confidence that he would win the race.
"Even, Hamzah himself has urged more young members to take the lead in the party," he said.
Bachtiar asserted that his candidacy would boost democratization in the party.
"We would like to see more than one candidates in the coming election, and it is up to the members to choose," Bachtiar said.
Around 1,000 party members are taking part in the four-day congress, which is aimed at consolidating the party ahead of the 2004 elections.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan, and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who heads the National Mandate Party, attended the opening ceremony of the congress. The two leading figures are possible contenders in the presidential election next year.
Separately, political analyst Indria Samego said he was skeptical that Hamzah's tactic to woo young party members would work.
Indria, a researcher with the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), said that, on one side the tactic to lure young guns could help erode Bachtiar's political base. But on the other hand, the move could draw strong resistance from the older members, who could not accept the presence of their juniors in the party's inner circle.
"The support from the old guard remains important, because they usually have vast political networks," he said.