Jakarta, NU Online
Newly elected United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali vowed Saturday to improve the party's performance in the upcoming 2009 elections and pay greater attention on the economy.
Speaking to the media after winning the PPP chairmanship at the Mercure Hotel in North Jakarta, Suryadharma said politics was not the only thing the party should focus on<>.
"We've long been focusing too much on political activities. But, during my leadership, I will help the PPP pay more attention to economic issues," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Suryadharma, who is also State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, said he would strive for the inclusion of Islamic teachings in the basic guidelines for Indonesian Muslims, especially the party's members and supporters.
He said that in an attempt to garner more votes in the 2009 general elections, he would consolidate the party's 33 nationwide provincial branches and address their problems one by one.
"Our target is an increase of 20 percent in ballot numbers from the previous (2004) general elections. And I'm also committed to consolidating a collective leadership in the PPP," he said, while maintaining that he would still serve as a Cabinet minister should President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono allow him to do so.
Political analyst Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia suggested that he focus on only one of the two positions.
"It's a question of professionalism. If he chooses to hold both positions as a Cabinet minister and a party chairman, it won't be good for the PPP," he told The Jakarta Post.
"Both the country and the PPP have a lot of problems. The PPP has been stagnant and needs to reform its ideology, priorities and strategies. It's hard to manage both the government and the party's affairs," he said.
Arbi said outgoing PPP chairman Hamzah Haz had not been able to catalyze change for the PPP because he was also involved in handling the country's problems as Vice President. Reorganization and coordination, he added, were essential in changing the PPP.
The PPP was established on Jan. 5, 1973, from four different Muslim organizations -- the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesian Muslim Party (Parmusi), the Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party (PSII) and the Tarbiyah Islamiyah Association (Perti).
Over the years, many members have quit the party and established new parties, including the National Awakening Party (PKB), created by NU members on July 23, 1998, following the downfall of the New Order in May 1998. (tjp/dar)
Newly elected United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali vowed Saturday to improve the party's performance in the upcoming 2009 elections and pay greater attention on the economy.
Speaking to the media after winning the PPP chairmanship at the Mercure Hotel in North Jakarta, Suryadharma said politics was not the only thing the party should focus on<>.
"We've long been focusing too much on political activities. But, during my leadership, I will help the PPP pay more attention to economic issues," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Suryadharma, who is also State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, said he would strive for the inclusion of Islamic teachings in the basic guidelines for Indonesian Muslims, especially the party's members and supporters.
He said that in an attempt to garner more votes in the 2009 general elections, he would consolidate the party's 33 nationwide provincial branches and address their problems one by one.
"Our target is an increase of 20 percent in ballot numbers from the previous (2004) general elections. And I'm also committed to consolidating a collective leadership in the PPP," he said, while maintaining that he would still serve as a Cabinet minister should President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono allow him to do so.
Political analyst Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia suggested that he focus on only one of the two positions.
"It's a question of professionalism. If he chooses to hold both positions as a Cabinet minister and a party chairman, it won't be good for the PPP," he told The Jakarta Post.
"Both the country and the PPP have a lot of problems. The PPP has been stagnant and needs to reform its ideology, priorities and strategies. It's hard to manage both the government and the party's affairs," he said.
Arbi said outgoing PPP chairman Hamzah Haz had not been able to catalyze change for the PPP because he was also involved in handling the country's problems as Vice President. Reorganization and coordination, he added, were essential in changing the PPP.
The PPP was established on Jan. 5, 1973, from four different Muslim organizations -- the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesian Muslim Party (Parmusi), the Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party (PSII) and the Tarbiyah Islamiyah Association (Perti).
Over the years, many members have quit the party and established new parties, including the National Awakening Party (PKB), created by NU members on July 23, 1998, following the downfall of the New Order in May 1998. (tjp/dar)
