PPP to hold congress in 2003

JAKARTA: The Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) has decided to convene its next national congress in June 2003 to elect a new party chairman.

"The congress in June has become a certainty," PPP secretary general Ali Marwan Hanan said here on Friday.

It was not immediately clear why the party had decided to organize its next national congress in 2003, as some party heavyweights, including chairman Hamzah Haz, had insisted on delaying it until after the elections in 2004.

The disagreement resulted in a party rift that culminated in the establishment of a rival group, the Reform PPP, chaired by popular Muslim preacher Zainuddin M.Z.

Ali Marwan also said that his party had not decided on its presidential candidate for the 2004-2009 term.

"The nomination of a presidential candidate will be decided by the next national executive board (to be elected in the June 2003 congress)," he said.

Meanwhile, PPP chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also the country's vice president, told the press that his party had formed a Steering Committee (SC) and an Organizing Committee (OC) for the congress.

According to Hamzah, the SC would be chaired by Zarkasih Nur, one of the party's vice chairmen, while the OC would be headed by Faisal Ba'asyir. --Antara