The Jakarta Post, June 10, 2002
Hamzah set to take leave, focus on PPP election drive
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Vice President Hamzah Haz sparked more controversy on Saturday by announcing
his plan to take a leave of absence as the President's second-in-command during the
election campaign in 2004 to focus on his United Development Party (PPP).
Speaking to the press after inaugurating the State Islamic University here, Hamzah
said he would not utilize state facilities or security escorts during his one-month leave
for party commitments.
"It's the government arrangement and I think that's the way the principle works,"
Hamzah said.
Hamzah had previously incited public debate when he visited Muslim hardline figure
Ja'far Umar Thalib, who was arrested for allegedly provoking violence in Maluku and
insulting the President.
Article 108 of the draft law on elections, which will soon be submitted to the House of
Representatives for deliberation, stipulates that political parties are not allowed to
involve public officials, including the President, Vice President, Supreme Court
justices, leaders of the Supreme Advisory Board, the Supreme Audit Agency, Cabinet
ministers, Bank Indonesia Governors and their deputies, provincial governors or state
enterprises directors in election campaigns.
The existing 1999 election law applies the same ruling, but some public officials who
hold important positions in political parties have come up with a loophole by taking a
leave from their respective posts. Then minister/state secretary Akbar Tandjung, who
chairs the Golkar Party, was an exception as he resigned from the Cabinet before the
1999 election campaign.
Hamzah, who will bid for the presidency in 2004, said party leaders who held state
positions would have to take a leave, during which they could not use state facilities,
to carry out party-related tasks during the election campaign period.
Apart from Hamzah, the Cabinet of President Megawati Soekarnoputri incorporates
many party leaders, including herself who leads the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra who chairs the
Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil who heads a
largely unrecognized splinter group of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
Hamzah's controversial plan was immediately challenged by constitutional law expert
Harun Alrasyid.
The University of Indonesia professor said Hamzah's absence would disrupt the
running of state affairs.
"By law, the Vice President's job is to assist the President in carrying out the
day-to-day state duties, as well as to represent or to replace the President should she
become unable to perform.
"It would be downright ridiculous if the President had to work alone while the Vice
President was on leave for his own business," Harun told The Jakarta Post on
Saturday.
Harun said that both the President and Vice President are allowed by law to take a
leave only upon a recommendation from their doctors.
"Moreover, I think it's quite premature for him (Hamzah) to arrange a holiday as the
general election campaign remains more than a year away," Harun, a former member
of the General Election Commission, said.
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