Observers and experts applaud Hamzah's victory

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)