Ismail Hasan gets support to stay as PPP head
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)
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)