Ismail Hasan gets support to stay as PPP head

JAKARTA (JP): The re-election chances of Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), got a boost yesterday when he received endorsements from all 27 regional chapters.

Representatives from the 27 chapters gathered yesterday at Ismail Hasan's home to convey their demand that he join the election, which will be held during the PPP congress in Jakarta in late August.

South Sulawesi chapter chairman Tadjuddin Ibrahim set the tone for the meeting yesterday when he stated categorically that the PPP members in the province wanted him to stay at the helm.

"This is not a mere plea. This is a mandate," he said to the applause of the others attending the meeting.

Yogyakarta chapter chairman Alfian Darmawan followed by saying that since assuming the top spot in 1989 Ismail Hasan had a calming influence on the party which was formerly notorious for internal bickering.

Then, one by one, representatives from 12 other provinces followed suit in declaring their support for the incumbent chairman. The rest did not speak but showed their approval, according to the Antara news agency.

Both the Jakarta and Irian Jaya chapters had already announced their support for Ismail Hasan.

Most of the chapters were represented by their chairman, although some were led by deputy chairmen.

The endorsement for Ismail Hasan came amid a flurry of activity by his opponents, mainly those identified with the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Islamic organization, who have declared their intention to wrest the chairmanship from him.

NU is one of the four factions that make up the PPP. Although it is the largest in terms of membership, it has never been able to fill the chairmanship, which has always gone to the Muslimin Indonesia, a faction that counts on the support of the government.

Ismail Hasan's competitors in the chairmanship election include his own secretary general Matori Abdul Djalil, Hamzah Haz and Jusuf Hasjim, all from the NU faction.

Critics of the incumbent said his leadership was too conservative and that the party needs someone more aggressive and popular to at least retain second place in the 1997 general election.

Ismail Hasan yesterday declined to accept the nomination outright despite the strong massive show of support in the meeting.

"The time and place to accept the nomination is at the congress," he said. "I don't intend to pre-empt the congress."

However, he took out a small piece of paper and read a brief statement: "If I get elected at the congress, with the blessing of Allah, I intend to carry out the duty outlined to me."

He added that the meeting was held at the request of regional chapter representatives and was not his idea.

Some members of the PPP central executive board were present at yesterday's meeting, including Yudo Paripurno, Darussamin, Aisyah Amini, Jusuf Syakir, Zarkasih Noer, Cholid Badawi and Anshry Sam. (emb)