PPP chairman refuses to budge on candidate list

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) leadership defended its candidate list for next year's general election in the face of criticism from within its ranks.

Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum visited President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace to discuss the PPP's list of candidates which he submitted to the National Elections Institute earlier this month.

The list reflects the aspirations of party supporters in the regions, Ismail Hasan said.

"We have tried to accommodate all the wishes of the regions," he told reporters after meeting the head of state.

He said the party had made one or two changes to the list, like putting Hasyim Latief, a prominent leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama, as its number one candidate for East Java.

As far as Central Java candidates are concerned, they reflect the wishes of party supporters in that province, he said.

Another change was made because Yudo Paripurno, a member of the PPP central board, was switched from the Central Java electorate to the Yogyakarta electorate. His Central Java spot has been filled by Alihardi Kiai Demak, another prominent ulema.

Ismail Hasan said the list for West Java has been reinforced by younger people.

Any requests for more changes must come from the regions, he said, adding that the leadership would only make changes if it was really necessary.

The PPP leadership has come under fire from some of its long- time supporters, including several ulemas, who have been excluded from its candidate list.

The list is currently in the hands of the National Elections Institute which is screening all candidates for the House of Representatives, including those proposed by Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Golkar and PPP have each presented a list of 850 names, double the number of contested House seats, to the institute. The PDI has submitted a list of 903 names.

Golkar has also faced criticism from within its own ranks over accusations of nepotism in the selection of its candidates.

Ismail Hasan said that all the criticism against the PPP leadership over the party's list arose from misunderstandings.

Charges that the PPP leadership has neglected the Nahdlatul Ulama faction in Central Java is unfounded because, of the 13 legislators now serving that province, eight are from that organization, he said.

"Maybe because they have been in Jakarta for a long time, many people in Central Java are not familiar with them," he said.

Ismail Hasan said the President did not comment directly on the row over the PPP's list of candidates.

The President said the PPP must pay more attention toward consolidating the party and grooming its cadres. (emb)