Rival camps set for PPP chairmanship race

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Five provincial chapters of the United Development Party (PPP) announced their support for the reelection of Hamzah Haz on Thursday, but demanded that in return he recruit young cadres to fill 70 percent of positions in the party's central board.

The provincial chapters from West Java, Jakarta, Bangka Belitung, North Sumatra and Maluku also officially asked the party to name Hamzah, who is the Vice President, its presidential candidate.

Burhanuddin Somawinata, the chairman of the West Java chapter, said the presence of more young cadres in the party's inner circle could boost its chance of winning the 2004 general election.

He said the party was in dire need of fresh blood to overcome tough opposition in the 2004 general election, and he was confident that the young guns in the party were capable enough of leading the party to victory.

The five provincial chapters said Hamzah's reelection as party chairman would enable him to run for the presidency.

Ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has named chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the President, its presidential candidate, while National Mandate Party has picked its chairman Amien Rais, who is the People's Consultative Assembly speaker its aspirant for presidency. Another major party the National Awakening Party is close to supporting chief patron Abdurrahman Wahid's bid to regain power.

Hamzah officially announced on Thursday his readiness to contest the party chairmanship for the second successive term.

He said his decision to join the race came after many provincial chapters and influential ulema expressed their support for his leadership.

The veteran politician hails from Nahdlatul Ulama, an influential faction within the party, and is largely supported by the old generation.

PPP brought forward its congress to elect its chairman one year from its initial schedule in 2004, following pressure from young cadres.

Meanwhile, Hamzah's lone rival Bachtiar Chamsyah maintained that he would not throw in the towel until the election on Friday.

Ali Hardi Kyai Demak, one of Bachtiar's close aides, claimed that Bachtiar, who comes from the Muslimin Indonesia faction, was supported by 70 percent of both the party's chapters and branches.

In a separate development, both Hamzah and Bachtiar picked their own team of selectors, who will elect the chairman on Friday.

The seven-member selection committee will be elected by the party's chapters, branches and executive board. Thirty votes are allotted for the chapters, 404 for the branches and one vote for the central board.