SI, Perti leery on factional conflicts in PPP

JAKARTA (JP): Sarekat Islam (SI) and Perti, two minority factions in the United Development Party (PPP), say they are concerned that the party is veering back toward factional conflicts in anticipation of a national congress to elect the party's leaders.

The two factions have been caught in the midst of a stiff battle between the Muslimin Indonesia (MI) and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) for the right to lead the Moslem-based party.

SI secretary general Ali Hamzah Sanusi told The Jakarta Post yesterday it is high time that the party's unity be a top priority because many PPP leaders still cling to the factions they originally came from.

Unity among Moslems was the goal in establishing SI in 1911, he said adding that he believes that the PPP should also aim for the same goal. He proposed a dialog between the PPP's faction leaders to reassess the party's objectives and goals.

"It's been a long time since the former parties that are now factions have held dialogs," he said.

PPP was formed in 1973 through a merger of four Moslem political parties -- NU, MI, Perti and SI. Despite the merger, each of the factions has retained its organizational identity and is pursuing social or economic goals while remaining active in the PPP.

With the PPP slated to hold its congress in Jakarta, beginning on Aug. 28, rivalry between the four factions has resurfaced, particularly between NU and MI, on the question of the party's leadership.

NU, by far the largest of the factions, is determined to wrest the leadership from the incumbent chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, who hails from NU.

Open party

Hamzah said as far as he is concerned, MI and NU are free to push their own candidates, but they must have good leadership qualifications and be able to unite the party's supporters.

Perti's secretary general Ubaidilah Murad said his faction wants to see PPP grow into a large political organization.

"Conflicts of interest among the factions will only reduce the party's power," Murad said.

He believes that PPP will never progress if it keeps counting on the support of the four factions. "PPP should be an open party which opens its doors to people from outside the four factions."

PPP leaders who rely on the support of their factions will become factional leaders instead of the party's, he said.

Incumbent chairman Ismail Hasan's strongest contender for the chairmanship appears to be his own secretary general, Matori Abdul Djalil, who hails from NU.

Ismail Hasan's leadership for the past five years has been credited with eliminating the factional bickering that had beset the party in the past. But with the impending congress, the division has resurfaced.

Both Perti and SI said they do not have any particular candidate, stressing that candidates should not be judged in terms of their factional background but on their ability to unite and lead the party.

Hamzah said that SI would like to see someone younger and more progressive at the helm to increase PPP's chances in the next general election in 1997. "I believe it would be better if PPP were led by the younger generation."

Hamzah said a man with Ismail Hasan's talents was needed when the party was in turmoil during the transition from the leadership of the controversial and flamboyant Jailany Naro. "Now that the tension is over, he's not the type anymore. We also know that PPP has lost potential votes in the last general election."

Hamzah acknowledged that it is difficult to find a figure in PPP who possesses solid political capabilities. For the time being, he said, PPP only has people with expertise in particular areas such as giving sermons or in the economy.

Murad said PPP must introduce new programs if it wants to grow into a bigger party. (par)