PPP expected to push govt for total reform

JAKARTA (JP): The new leadership of the United Development Party (PPP) under Hamzah Haz is expected to continue the party's drive for reforms which include a reduction of the Armed Forces' role in politics and a fair democratic election next year.

Political scientist Indria Samego from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said Hamzah should step up the party's efforts to act as a check on the government, as outlined in the congress.

"The PPP should continue to control the government both directly and through the legislative bodies.

"As a popular party, it should be able to channel the people's demands for a total reform, including the trial of former president Soeharto and the investigation of his wealth and that of his family and cronies," he said.

According to Indria, PPP must play an even more active role in the deliberation of the political bills in the House of Representatives (DPR) to ensure a fair election takes place next year.

Most notably it should proceed with its pledge to push for a reduction in the military's presence in the House.

"The PPP should remain committed to ending the Armed Forces' political role," he said.

Indria, who is also known as an astute military observer, hailed a statement issued by the congress which calls for the number of seats allocated to the Armed Forces (ABRI) in the House of Representatives to be cut from 75 to 10.

He said he expects the statement to help boost support for the party among pro-reform groups.

As the largest opposition party in the House, Indria said people would look to the PPP to press the government to dissolve the directorate general of political affairs and the military- dominated Coordinating Board for National Stability (Bakorstanas), which have in the past been used to exert pressure on political parties.

One important role the PPP could play, Indria said, would be to help eradicate antagonism between opposing groups in society.

"The party is expected to play a role as a political broker to bridge the communications gap between the transitional government and the people, and to eradicate antagonism between ABRI and civilians, indigenous and non-indigenous people, Moslems and non- Moslems and the rich and the poor," he said.

Tosari Wijaya, the party's previous secretary general, said much hope is being placed on Hamzah to implement a political and economic agenda as prescribed by the party congress.

"The PPP will continue to encourage the government to develop an economy oriented toward the people, reform the banking industry and promote small and medium-sized companies," Tosari said.

Zarkasih Nur, deputy chairman of the party faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and chairman of the congress organizing committee, said that the PPP would remain open to all, despite the decision to readopt the Kaabah as the party's symbol.

Zarkasih maintained that the party would continue to pursue national development in accordance with the 1945 Constitution and the Pancasila state ideology.

He said that Islam would form the basis of the party's principles but would not be used to alienate people with other religious beliefs, saying the party would "Indonesianize" Islam.

"This means all development programs will be seen from an Islamic perspective," he said.

Confidence

Indria, Tosari and Zurkasih said they were confident the party could win a majority at the next general election, despite the recent emergence of a number of other Islamic political parties.

Indria said that the party's traditional supporters from Muslimin Indonesia, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Partai Tarbiyah Islamiyah and Syarikat Islam were expected to remain loyal because many leading figures in the party are members of these groups.

"The presence of influential NU political ulemas in the party such as Hamzah, Hermani, Muchsin Bafadal and Yudho Peripurno is expected to attract the support of NU members," he said.

In his view, the party has the potential to win 20 percent of the popular vote in the country at next year's general election -- the equivalent of 90 seats in the next House.

If the party fails to win a majority, both Zarkasih and Tosari said they would not be adverse to forming alliances with other parties which shared similar goals. (rms)