PPP may bring forward congress to 2003
Annastashya Emmanuelle The Jakarta Post Jakarta
In anticipation of the heated competition ahead in the 2004 general election, United Development Party (PPP) chairman and Vice President Hamzah Haz hinted on Wednesday that the party would expedite its much disputed congress to 2003 instead of 2004 as part of an internal party reconciliation.
The party chairman made the statement during a meeting with the chairman of the Justice Party (PK), Hidayat Nur Wahid, at the vice presidential office in Central Jakarta.
"The decision to bring forward the congress to 2003 is part of a national reconciliation, starting from a reconciliation within PPP," Hidayat quoted Hamzah as saying.
Hidayat said Hamzah's stance on the party congress was clear as the Vice President had repeatedly stated the importance of an internal reconciliation within PPP.
During the meeting, which was also attended by PPP secretary- general Alimarwan Hanan, Hamzah instructed Alimarwan to immediately schedule a national meeting of party leaders before June 23.
Previously, Hamzah's supporters in the party's executive board, who wish to see him remain in power, decided that the next party congress would be held in 2004, the same year as the country's general election.
As he insisted on postponing the party's congress from 2003 to 2004, young PPP members led by noted Muslim preacher Zainuddin M.Z. -- a former PPP leader -- declared the establishment of PPP Reformasi on Jan. 21 this year.
They argued that the change was in violation of a party regulation.
There has been speculation that a dispute between Hamzah and Zainuddin followed over a struggle for power in drafting the legislator lineup for the 2004 general election.
The one chosen as the party's chairman in the year of the election would have the ultimate decision in choosing PPP's candidates, who would compete in the election.
PPP, who came in third in the 1999 general election, is likely to perform poorly in the upcoming election, due to internal rifts between the executive board and its youth wing as well as the recent split by Zainuddin's faction.
As PPP Reformasi turned into a growing threat, Hamzah called on the splinter group to reunite and strengthen the Muslim-based political party.
Meanwhile, Djafar Badjeber, an executive of PPP Reformasi, said that whether Hamzah would postpone or expedite the congress would not matter much anymore.
"If they do have their congress in 2003, we wish them all the best. Frankly, to us (PPP Reformasi), it doesn't matter anymore when Hamzah will hold the congress," Djafar told The Jakarta Post.
PPP Reformasi has registered its party with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.