PPP to open congress by flexing political muscle
JAKARTA (JP): In an apparent show of force, the United Development Party (PPP) will open its congress at Senayan Stadium on Sunday morning with expectations for a turnout of at least 150,000 loyal members and supporters.
It will be opened by outgoing chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, breaking with the tradition of inviting the nation's president to do the honors.
The act displays greater self-confidence among party leaders in seeking to keep a safe distance from the government.
The PPP has been riding high since it challenged the powerful Golkar grouping and the Armed Forces (ABRI) on the issue of the military's representation in the House of Representatives at this month's special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Although PPP lost the vote on the motion to remove ABRI's political privileges, the party's gains in sympathy and new supporters could bode well for next year's election.
It was also the PPP which insisted that the Assembly issue a ruling ordering the government to investigate the wealth of former president Soeharto.
After long playing reluctant second fiddle to the dominant Golkar, the PPP is now flexing its muscle, hoping to woo back its traditional supporter base among Moslem voters.
All major roads leading to the Senayan Stadium have been ringed with the party's green flags.
Party leaders said the congress was expected to endorse the plan for the PPP to revert to an Islamic party and adopt its former symbol of the Kaaba, the Moslem holy shrine in Mecca.
Bactiar Chamsyah, secretary of the congress' organizing committee, explained that President B.J. was originally scheduled to attend.
"After considering various matters, including security reasons, it was decided that he would not attend the opening ceremony."
Sunday's opening ceremony will feature seven Moslem preachers and a performance by the noted Bimbo music group.
"We want to demonstrate that we're still here because many analysts have dismissed our political chances," Bachtiar said.
PPP will not enjoy a monopoly as an Islamic party. More than 10 of the nearly 100 new established parties which are eying next year's election have also adopted Islamic names and themes.
PPP's greatest challenges will come from the People's Awakening Party (PKB), which is associated with the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic movement, and the Crescent and Star Party, led by renowned Moslem intellectuals. Although the National Mandate Party (PAN) does not style itself as an Islamic party, its leader Amien Rais retains strong appeal among Moslems.
Many analysts said much would depend on the new PPP leadership on whether it could mount a serious challenge in the general election.
On Saturday, the field remained open as Metareum had announced that he would not contest the chairmanship.
Two old PPP figures, State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz and State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin, lead the pack of contenders.
Human rights activist Baharuddin Lopa, PPP deputy chairman Jusuf Syakir and former PPP chairman Jaelani Naro are considered dark horses. (byg)