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)