Observers and experts applaud Hamzah's victory

JAKARTA (JP): Hamzah Haz's victory in the vice presidential election was received positively by politicians, observers and experts alike, who said Hamzah would complement President Megawati Soekarnoputri to form an effective government.

Fahmi Idris, the chairman of the Golkar Party faction in the People's Consultative Assembly, hailed the vice presidential election as very democratic and transparent, and accepted Hamzah's victory.

Golkar's candidate, Akbar Tanjung, lost to Hamzah in the third round of the vice presidential vote on Thursday.

"We must accept the ballot as the most democratic the nation has ever held. All of the factions were allowed to nominate their own candidates and the ballot was conducted democratically and transparently. This is a good start for the future development of democracy," he said following the closing ceremony of the five- day Assembly Special Session here on Thursday.

Asked to comment on the Megawati-Hamzah duo, Fahmi said they were suitable partners, with the hope being that the Muslim groups represented by Hamzah would support Megawati's government.

The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction in the Assembly, Sophan Sophiaan, said his party supported Hamzah, demonstrated by the party's instructions to its members in the Assembly to vote for Hamzah.

He contended that Hamzah was the vice presidential candidate likely to receive the most public support.

"Actually, it was a hard choice for us because all of the candidates were good, but we had to determine which one would be the most popular with the people," Sophan said following the election.

Several members of PDI Perjuangan, the largest party in the Assembly, appeared less than ecstatic with Hamzah's election, saying there were no better options.

"We have to do this for the sake of the country, but actually the vote goes against our heart," a PDI Perjuangan member, who asked not to be named, said.

Bachtiar Chamsyah, the deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, which nominated Hamzah, hailed the election as democratic and transparent.

"No sides have made any allegations of money politics or unfair play during the election, and everyone, including those who supported the defeated candidates, accepted Hamzah's victory," he said.

He contended that Hamzah's victory would benefit all parties and the nation as well, and temper the dissatisfaction of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), which supported former president Abdurrahman Wahid.

According to him, Hamzah's victory will strengthen Muslim support for Megawati's government and reduce any possible resistance from NU supporters, because Hamzah himself is an NU member.

In Yogyakarta, Ichlasul Amal, a political expert from Gadjah Mada University, warned that Megawati and Hamzah's positions as the chairpeople of their political parties -- PDI Perjuangan and PPP, respectively -- could create problems in the future.

"With the 2004 general election getting closer, their interests as the leaders of political parties could cause friction. This could be counterproductive and hinder the government's policy-making process," he said.

Amal said both Megawati and Hamzah should allow others to handle the affairs of their parties, otherwise an excessive conflict of interest could occur in the newly formed government.

A vice president, according to Amal, should act to support the President in making policy. But because Hamzah and Megawati were elected separately, not as part of one "package", they could have different political agendas.

"This was the problem with Abdurrahman's government, and could become one with Megawati's government. In the Soeharto era, the tasks of the vice president were clear. A vice president was the supervisor of the country's development programs," he said. (rms/dja/44)