Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A further split has cast a shadow over the United Development Party (PPP), the nation's largest Muslim-based party, as a walkout spoiled the finale of its four-day congress on Friday.
With his reelection as party chairman a foregone conclusion, Hamzah Haz would now need to reconcile with his solitary contender, Bachtiar Chamsyah, who walked out of the meeting to form the party's new board of executives.
Bachtiar left the meeting room in disappointment as his bid for the post of deputy chairman was denied by Hamzah, who headed the seven-member team of selectors following his unanimous win in the election earlier in the day.
Instead of choosing Bachtiar, the party's team picked H. Alimarwan Hanan. The party also named former information minister Lt. Gen. (ret) Yunus Yosfiah its secretary-general.
Bachtiar told reporters afterwards that he would focus on his job as social affairs minister. He acknowledged that he had wanted the position of deputy chairman or secretary-general but Hamzah's rejection had prompted him to quit the meeting.
Five of the selectors were Hamzah's supporters, namely Ahmad Thoyfur, Endin AJ Soefihara, Hafidz Ma'soem, H. Alimarwan Hanan, and Yunus Yosfiah. Two other members were Bachtiar and his only aide Husni Thamrin. Hamzah, who will lead the party until 2008, is also the Vice President, while Alimarwan is the State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises.
Hamzah, who is preparing himself for the presidential election next year, lived up to his promise to recruit younger cadres to fill the positions in the 37-strong central board of executives.
The congress' steering committee chairman Zarkasih Nur disclosed that 60 percent of positions in the central board went to young politicians. "The inclusion of more politicians from the younger generation would bear well for the future of the party," he said.
Regarding the number of woman politicians, Zarkasih acknowledged that the party had been unable to meet the recommended quota of 30 percent. The party went into the congress following a year of internal dispute, which saw some of its members led by prominent preacher Zainuddin MZ break away and form their own party after Hamzah rejected their demand for a snap congress. The congress was eventually moved forward from its original schedule in 2004, but the deserters refused to come back.
In the latest election in 1999, PPP won 58 seats in the House of Representatives to become the third largest faction in the legislative body. Many doubt that PPP would be able to repeat its performance in the coming election due to the fractions within the party.
However, former deputy secretary-general Djuhad Mahja expressed optimism that the party would fare better next year under Hamzah. "Hamzah will lead the party to success as he enjoys full support from chapters in East Java, Central Java, West Java, Kalimantan, and other PPP strongholds," Djuhad said.
Senior legislator Barlianta Harahap concurred, saying that PPP's future would be brighter thanks to Hamzah and the presence of former state officials, retired military officers and businessmen in the party.
The central board's structure consists of a chairman, a deputy chairman, a secretary-general, a deputy secretary-general, 15 co-chairpersons, 15 secretaries, a treasurer, and two deputy treasurers.