[Nasional-e] Hamzah Haz: A politician with good survival instinct

[Ambon]

The Jakarta Post
Oct. 4, 2002

Hamzah Haz: A politician with good survival instinct
Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, korpur@yahoo.com

It has always been a customary routine for Indonesia's presidents after
Soekarno, all Muslims, and five vice presidents, including Megawati
Soekarnoputri, to attend nationally organized Christmas celebrations as well
as annual ceremonies celebrating Buddhism and Hinduism.
That formality of that routine was nearly interrupted last Christmas. It was
unbelievable for many that Vice President Hamzah Haz would attend the
national Christmas celebration on Dec. 26. The chairman of the
Muslim-oriented United Development Party (PPP) seemed to be among those who
thought it was sinful for Muslims to convey Christmas greetings to
Christians and Catholics.
But they were proven wrong. The Vice President attended the Christmas
ceremony along with his first wife Nani Hamzah. But the fear over his
expected absence may be a reflection of his image as an intolerant Muslim
leader among non Muslims or even possibly among moderate Muslims.
This view is still debatable; there are others who argue that Hamzah is the
defender of most Muslims in this country, and that suspicions about him are
only felt by a small group of people.
The Vice President consistently expresses his critical attitude toward the
U.S., especially after the Sept. 11 tragedy. In commenting about the
tragedy, Hamzah was quoted by the press as saying, "Hopefully, the tragedy
can cleanse the sins by the U.S.."
Hamzah knows very well how to play to the deep-seated disappointment, denial
and anger of Indonesian Muslims over what they see as allegations without
strong evidence from the U.S., that terrorists exist here. Other leaders,
like Megawati and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien
Rais appear hesitant to stand up to Washington.
Like it or not, in the absence of the voices of other leaders, Hamzah
succeeds in at least appearing as a strong defender of Indonesia against
foreign pressures and hostilities. Abdurrahman Wahid is an internationally
respected Muslim intellectual, especially when he was still chairman of
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). However, after his fall from the presidency last year,
his voice has become much less effective, and his fall has also affected
NU's self-confidence.
The National Awakening Party (PKB), co-founded by Abdurrahman, is also
affected by the NU situation. Amien's party, the National Awakening Party
(PAN), is also less effective given its relatively small number of seats in
the House of Representatives.
When leaders of the two largest Muslim organizations, NU and Muhammadiyah
started to jointly speak up following the strong rhetoric from Muslims in
the wake of Sept. 11, they eventually gained an international reputation as
the country's moderate Muslim leaders. However, they still need more time to
reach the credibility that Abdurrahman enjoys within the international
community.
As for Hamzah, he does not want to appear to be a hypocrite, although he is
also often inconsistent. In the case of Megawati, he had to swallow his own
words. In the presidential election in 1999, citing Islamic teachings, he
said a woman could not become president. Nearly two years later he supported
her as Abdurrahman's successor. Hamzah also shows a confusing stance on the
necessity to include the sharia in the amended Constitution.
He never tries to hide the fact that he has two wives. Hamzah puts his
doctorate title in official documents, although it is only an honorary
degree from a little known university in the U.S. Megawati, who received an
honorary doctor of law from Japan's prestigious Waseda University last year,
never uses her new title.
His first foreign guest after his swearing-in as the country's ninth vice
president last July was from Libya while on the same day President Megawati
received the U.S. ambassador for Indonesia.
Hamzah openly shows his sympathy to Laskar Jihad leader Jafar Umar Thalib,
most recently, when the latter was detained by police. He also met with
Indonesian Mujahidin Council leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. His attitude has
sparked controversy, but he may be right when he said that he met with them
as Muslim brothers. Hamzah is ready to accommodate the aspirations of
outspoken Muslim organizations.
Hamzah is a veteran politician, and knows very well how to survive. He was
able to endure and thrive during Soeharto's 32-year dictatorship. He was a
member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from 1971, representing NU,
from 1973 to 1998 he represented PPP. Only three parties were allowed under
Soeharto, including Soeharto's party Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) and PPP.
The fact that he could maintain his seat in the legislature for consecutive
27 years, while the military used to tightly scrutinize PPP members, proved
his political skill. As he served a long time with the House's State Budget
Commission, Hamzah is well-known for his knowledge of the economy. For
years, he regularly wrote articles on the economy for Kompas daily.
When B.J. Habibie replaced Soeharto in May 1998, he appointed Hamzah as
state minister of state enterprises. In December that year, he was elected
to chair PPP. One month before the general elections in June 1999, he
resigned from the Cabinet.
Born on Feb. 15, 1940 in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. He failed to finish his
studies at the Faculty of Economics, Tanjungpura University, in Pontianak.
Some political analysts, like Arbi Sanit, have pointed out that Hamzah has
already started campaigning for the 2004 presidential elections. Among
Muslim-oriented political parties, so far he is likely the strongest
candidate for the next president.
He now is no longer just the leader of PPP or Islamic society. Along with
Megawati, they are considered to be the parents and protectors of the whole
nation. Hamzah's credibility is now being tested -- is he able to safeguard
all highly diverse Indonesians, regardless of religion, ethnicity and other
backgrounds?
Eventually, it will be much more difficult for him to convince the
international community of his impartial leadership, if he does not improve
that image right now.
The nation needs Hamzah Haz. As vice president, he is too close to the top
to be anything less than a statesman. He has shown himself as a populist
leader, and he now needs to show his statesmanship.