PPP introduces new vision, paradigm for 1999 election

PPP introduces new vision, paradigm for 1999 election

JAKARTA (JP): Ahead of its extraordinary Congress, slated for
Nov. 29 through Dec. 3, the United Development Party (PPP) has
been launching several strategic issues as part of its efforts to
maintain its existence in the politics of the reform era.

The party has a lot of work ahead to maintain support among
its traditional supporters, and to widen its base among the
younger Moslem generation.

Its following is now divided with voters looking for new
parties with fresh outlooks. While several new parties have
announced their explicitly Moslem identity, PPP only recently
said it would re-adopt its original identity as a Moslem party.

In line with the 1985 law on Political Parties and Golkar
which stated parties and sociopolitical organizations should
adhere to Pancasila as their sole principle, PPP had to shed its
formal Moslem image. It relied on Moslem supporters but
increasingly educated voters were alienated from PPP and
political parties altogether.

Now potential competition, analysts say, would be from the
National Mandate Party, the National Awakening Party and the
Crescent Star Party -- all led by renowned Moslem intellectuals.

PPP hopes potential supporters will remember its hard work in
the recent Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

This week, because of PPP's insistence that the new bill on
parties being deliberated by legislators no longer contain the
requirement of Pancasila as a sole ideology, the subject will be
put to the vote.

It was PPP's Assembly faction which made possible the airing
of some of the issues much demanded by students and activists at
the Assembly session, including the abolition of the Armed
Forces' (ABRI) representation in the House and the investigation
into former president Soeharto's personal wealth.

Securing support from the Golkar and Armed Forces factions,
the two issues won unanimous approval from the 1,000-member
Assembly. The gradual reduction of ABRI seats in the House of
Representatives was legislated into the MPR decree on elections,
and the investigation into former president Soeharto's wealth was
inserted into the decree on clean governance.

PPP was born in January 1973 out of an amalgamation of four
political organizations -- the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Muslimin
Indonesia (MI), the Syarekat Islam (SI) and the Persatuan
Tarbiyah Islamiyah (Perti). NU resigned from the party in 1984
citing its original 1921 statute declaring it a social
organization.

Instead of a new vision and paradigm -- given the tight
competition -- PPP's achievement in next year's general election
would likely rest on the figure of its next chairman.

After chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum had announced his
unwillingness to be renominated or reelected in the five-day
party congress, several names have been declared as candidates
for the 1998-2003 PPP chairman.

Two PPP executive board members, deputy chairman Hamzah Haz,
an NU figure, and controversial MI figure A.M. Saefuddin, State
Minister of Food and Horticulture, top the preliminary polling
among party cadres.

Several influential PPP chapters in East Java and South
Kalimantan have expressed support for Hamzah, also the State
Minister of Investment/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating
Board.

Meanwhile, PPP's Jakarta chapter and the Riau chapter have
declared their support for Saefuddin, who is also supported by
several young PPP cadres. The race for the PPP leadership became
more interesting after another PPP deputy chairman Jusuf Syakir
and renowned secretary-general of the National Commission on
Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa were described as "dark horses".

Former PPP chairman Jaelani Naro, two times serving PPP
chairman for the 1979-1984 and the 1984-1989 periods, has also
expressed his willingness to participate in the election.

Naro still has charisma among some PPP cadres, resulting from
his sensational 1988 nomination for the vice presidency. He
challenged then vice president Sudharmono, whose nomination was
recognized by then president Soeharto.

To help members decide, former student activist Saleh Khalid
has suggested a debate forum for all candidates.

"I'm not against those who support or reject certain
candidates because the decision will completely rest on the
Congress participants themselves." (imn)