PPP optimistic of winning 2004 polls

PPP optimistic of winning 2004 polls

JAKARTA: The Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) has
expressed confidence it will win the votes of Muslims across the
nation in the 2004 general elections, despite the sprouting of
many new political parties, including Muslim-oriented ones.

"We are not worried or threatened that many more political
parties will be competing in the 2004 elections ... we are
instead quite optimistic that PPP can win the elections," deputy
chairman of the PPP's executive board, Bachtiar Chamsyah, told
reporters in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Thursday.

PPP is currently chaired by Vice President Hamzah Haz.

"Our party is very old, and rich in the experience of
politicking. This is one factor that works to the advantage of
PPP, in comparison to other new parties," Bachtiar, who is also
the minister of social affairs, said.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.

Bachtiar quickly added that the establishment of PPP
Reformasi, a splinter group from PPP led by noted cleric
Zainuddin M.Z., did not trouble PPP.

Earlier, Hamzah and Zainuddin reached an agreement not to
condemn each other so as to avoid conflicts at the grassroots
level.

Principally the two camps agreed to struggle within one
political stance, namely developing an Islamic party into a much
bigger political unity. -- Antara