QSAR, a pebble in the shoe for Hamzah Haz
QSAR, a pebble in the shoe for Hamzah Haz
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Support is mounting for Hamzah Haz to be reelected as chairman of
the United Development Party (PPP), but his journey to the top
will not be as smooth as expected.
At least three provincial chapters questioned on Wednesday his
accountability speech presented in the ongoing party congress,
demanding that Hamzah and other executive board members be more
transparent in the high profile QSAR scandal.
The three chapters were Bali, Riau, and Yogyakarta.
The controversial case was brought to light in the national
political scene last year, after agribusiness company PT Qurnia
Subur Alam Raya (QSAR) went bankrupt.
PPP, the country's third biggest party, suffered a blow from
the case, after news broke out that Tosari Widjaja, Hamzah's
confidante, was one of the investors in the troubled firm.
Tosari admitted that he invested Rp 5 billion of PPP's money
in the company.
As the money vanished, Hamzah's opponents stepped up pressure
for a thorough investigation into the scandal.
The pressure resurfaced in the ongoing national congress,
which started on Tuesday, to elect a new chairman for the Muslim-
based political party.
Hamzah, who is also the Vice President, has made clear his
intention to run for the post. Another party leader, Bachtiar
Chamsyah, is also running for the party's top post. Chamsyah is
also Minister for Social Affairs.
The three provinces noted on Wednesday that Hamzah had
deliberately omitted the QSAR scandal from his accountability
speech.
The Bali provincial chapter, for example, regretted that the
case was not touched on in the accountability speech.
"An explanation must be given, otherwise the old executive
board will be deemed both irresponsible and not transparent in
this case," said Abdul Djalil, a member of Bali provincial
chapter.
Zarkasih Noer, one of the party's top leaders who is close to
Hamzah, explained later that the QSAR case had been solved and
the Rp 5 billion had been given back to the party.
Zarkasih, however, also said that the party was ready to set
up a team to clarify the matter.
However, in general, the challenge was largely ignored by
Hamzah's camp, given that only three out of 30 chapters raised
the issue. They were confident that the challenge would not
damage Hamzah's bid for the chairmanship.
"The majority of chapters still support Hamzah," said Tosari
Widjaja.
Hamzah, who was elected PPP chairman in 1999, has been touted
to win a second term. Hamzah will, however, face a stiff
challenge from Bachtiar Chamsyah who claims to represent the
younger cadres.
On Wednesday, hundreds of participants in the national meeting
listened to presentations made by each chapter, in which each
chapter responded to the accountability speech.
It was expected that the meeting would complete discussions on
the rules and procedures on the election of chairman by Wednesday
night.
Separately, Hamzah supporters stepped up pressure against
Bachtiar. The party's right wing Angkatan Muda Ka'abah (AMK)
demanded Bachtiar withdraw from the chairmanship race on the
grounds that he had minimal support.
Chairman of AMK, Sofyan Usman, claimed that Bachtiar only had
garnered support from four chapters, namely Riau, Yogyakarta,
West Sumatra and Papua.