Hectic day for Vice President Hamzah Haz

Hectic day for Vice President Hamzah Haz

JAKARTA (JP): Hamzah Haz woke up to a whole new world before
him on Friday, as the newly elected Vice President was
immediately laden with various protocol matters, including a pair
of adjutants at his bedroom door and the packing of belongings
for his new official residence.

Speaking to his neighbors after holding Friday prayers at a
mosque opposite his house, Hamzah admitted that he was shocked
when he arose this morning to find the adjutants in front of his
bedroom door.

"I was really confused because when I opened my bedroom door,
the adjutants were already waiting for me," Hamzah remarked.

Hamzah and family were immediately pressed to start packing,
since he was being ushered to the official vice presidential
residence.

"Actually they asked me to leave this house last night, but
well, it was too fast for me," he recalled.

Hamzah has to "migrate" for now from his home on Jl. Tegalan,
East Jakarta, where he has lived with his first wife Ismaniah,
and move to the officially designated residence at Jl. Widya
Chandra, South Jakarta.

Hamzah admitted that he was fond of his current place of
residence and was reluctant to leave his home where he has lived
for 20 years.

"But, you know, my house is not big enough to have all the
presidential security guards and all those protocol cars, so I
have to move, otherwise it will be worse for everybody," he
quipped.

Hamzah's private residence, located in a narrow street, was
inundated on Friday with bouquets, presidential protocol cars and
security guards.

Presidential security guards themselves may have a handful to
deal with, as Hamzah officially has two wives and 12 children.

According to standard procedure, each child should be
protected by at least three guards and each wife should have a
separate security detachment.

On Friday, most of his children were out and about, with few
security people tailing them.

It was not clear whether his second wife Titin Kartini, who
lives in Bogor, West Java has received the security normally
accorded to a vice president's spouse.

Hamzah was expected to visit his second wife's residence in
Bogor later on Friday night.

Despite the immediate imposition of protocol, Hamzah tried on
Friday to remain as oblivious to it as possible.

He did not reject to a barrage of questions from journalists,
despite the presidential guards' attempt to usher reporters away
from him.

He also ignored protocol by riding in the official
"B 2"-plated limousine with his wife and his mother. Usually, the
official car is reserved for just two in the back seat.

During Friday prayers the mosque, which he founded, was packed
with people, many taking the opportunity to congratulate him.

"I have to leave this place for a while, but I promise I will
try to attend mass gatherings to celebrate Islamic holidays here,"
he remarked.

Hamzah also said the vice presidential post will likely be the
last formal post he holds.

"When I received this job I said, 'Innalilahi wa innailaihi
rajiun (Everything comes from Allah and goes back to Allah),' an
expression that Muslims utter to mourn a loss)... but this is a
mandate so I will do my best and hope God will give me strength,"
he added.

Hamzah also praised former president Abdurrahman Wahid and
asked the people to remember that Abdurrahman was once the best
choice for the country to maintain peace and keep its territorial
integrity.

"We have to acknowledge that Abdurrahman tried his best for
the country and at one point was the right person to calm the
situation in our country," he remarked. (dja)