Jakarta – United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also the vice president, is scheduled to meet with Zainuddin MZ, leader of a PPP splinter group, in Surabaya on Jan. 5 to mend the rift in the party, an official said on Thursday.

"Kyai [Muslim elder] Alawy Muhammad has invited Zainuddin to come [to Surabaya], while the invitee has answered with an 'Insya Allah' [God willing]. Meanwhile, Hamzah Haz has a number of appointments on his itinerary [on the anniversary celebration of the party] in Surabaya," PPP East Java chairman Hafidz Ma'shoem said as quoted by Antara.

The rift in PPP was sparked by the decision by the party's national working congress last October to hold the party's congress, which will elect a new chairman, in 2004 after the next general election. Younger party members protested the decision and demanded that the congress be held in 2003.

As the party's national leadership ignored the demand, the younger members threatened to set up a rival party, to be called Reformed PPP, under the chairmanship of Zainuddin, who is a deputy chairman on the current PPP executive board.

Hafidz maintained, however, that he had heard nothing about the establishment of a rival party, neither in East Java nor in any other province. "I think it is just an idea. I have asked Zainuddin about it, who told me he expected to meet with Hamzah to discuss the matter to prevent a rift in the party," he said.

However, Hafidz did not discount the possibility of holding another national working congress of the party to reshuffle the executive board to accommodate the younger members' aspirations.

Hafidz said Zainuddin – a popular preacher with millions of followers – would give a lecture in a mass gathering during the anniversary celebration, while Hamzah would deliver a political speech. "Hamzah will also install new distinguished party members, consisting of 12 generals and popular intellectuals. The celebration itself will be attended by provincial chairmen from all over Indonesia, while supporters will be mobilized from all over Java," Hafidz said.