PPP debates future role outside the government

SEMARANG (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) has plunged into a new identity crisis in the wake of the "resignation" of its chairman Hamzah Haz from President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet.

As party members wait for Hamzah's explanation, many in the regions are calling on the Islamic party to take on the role of the opposition to the government, a position effectively vacated when all the major political parties were accommodated in the Cabinet in October.

Others in the party are calling for Hamzah's head amid allegations, particularly in the press, about his involvement in money politics.

The PPP Executive Board in Jakarta said on Monday that while Hamzah had been contemplating to resign and had discussed this with the President, he had not formally tendered his resignation, contrary to Abdurrahman's claim.

In a statement, the board demanded that the President clarified the issue to the public and also clear Hamzah of the corruption allegations.

The removal of Hamzah, and the replacement with a non-PPP figure, amounted to an insult to the party, PPP deputy chairmen Husni Thamrin and Secretary General Ali Marwan Hanan said.

Hamzah reportedly said he was surprised by the announcement of his resignation.

The senior Cabinet post was given to Basri Hasanuddin, previously rector of the state Hasanuddin University in Makasar, Ujungpandang.

When announcing the Cabinet reshuffle, President Abdurrahman said Hamzah had requested to resign because he wanted to concentrate on PPP affairs. But Hamzah had also made it clear in a number of press interviews that he disagreed with some of Abdurrahman's policies, including the plan to open trade ties with Israel.

Hamzah's own position in the party has also been shaken by internal bickering between the major factions in the party.

With his removal from the Cabinet, the PPP is only represented by Zarkasih Nur, the state minister of cooperatives and small and medium enterprises.

Habib Hasan Muchela, deputy chairman of PPP Surakarta's branch, Central Java, said Zarkasih should also tender his resignation and together with Hamzah become strong government critics.

"It's better for Zarkasih to show his solidarity by resigning from the post.

"Remember that PPP is the main element in the "axis force". It seems that Abdurrahman has forgotten this," Hasan said.

The axis force, comprising of the PPP and other Muslim parties, led the campaign to nominate Abdurrahman in the presidential election last month.

PPP could more effectively control Abdurrahman's policies by playing the opposition role, he said.

In Semarang, the secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdul Kadir Karding said the PPP should take up the role of the opposition party as part of a move to strengthen the country's democracy.

"Our hope is for Hamzah to lead the opposition in the House of Representatives (DPR). I wish for him to form a strong and critical opposition to control the government," said Abdul, whose Muslim party is the main supporter of Abdurrahman.

"The PPP deserves to play the role of a strong government critic because it was one of the biggest winners in the June general election."

PPP finished fourth in the election with nearly 11 percent of the votes, which translated into 59 of the House's 500 seats.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of New Order regime which led to the collapse of almost all sectors of life -- from economic, social, political to legal -- because of the absence of an effective opposition," Abdul said. (har/edt)