Suryadharma, currently the Religious Affairs Minister, gained 859 votes or 72.55 percent of the 1,180 votes cast in the election early Wednesday (July 6), during the party`s congress from July 3 through 7, 2011 at a hotel in Bandung, West Java.
The two other candidates for the party`s chairmanship, namely Akhmad Muqowam and Ahmad Yani, garnered 281 votes (23.73 pct) and 39 votes (3.29 pct) respectively.
When a vote count official read out the name of the candidate written on the last ballot, Suryadharma`s supporters were so excited they rose from their seats and occupied the space separating the floor from the stage where the ballots were cast and counted.
They then scrambled to shake hands, embrace and congratulate Suryadharma who was seated up front.
Other supporters even sang the blessing song on the prophet (Muhammad- peace be upon him).
Although the atmosphere of the electoral session was quite heated, everything still happened in an orderly manner.
Then, vice chairman of the congress organizing committee Hasrul Azwar who led the plenary session gave Suryadharma Ali the floor to deliver a brief speech on his re-election.
On the occasion, Suryadharma Ali, promised to work harder together with all cadres in a bid to develop the PPP.
During President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s first term of office, Suryadharma served as Minister of Cooperatives and State and Medium Enterprises in the Cabinet.
In the PPP`s National Congress in Jakarta from January 30 through February 3, 2007, Suryadharma Ali emerged as the new party chairman replacing Hamzah Haz.
Prior to Suryadharma Ali`s term of office, PPP which was established on January 5, 1973, led by Muhammad Syafaat Mintareja (1973-1978), Jaelani Naro (1978-1989), Ismail Hasan Metareum (1989-1998) and Hamzah Haz (1998-2007).
PPP came sixth in the 2009 legislative election with 5.3 percent of the votes.
Thus, Suryadharma who will lead the Islam-based United Development Party for 2011-2016 period, is badly hoped to make the party bigger and stronger in a bid to face the 2014 general elections.
Prior to the party`s top figures election, Rahardjo Tjakraningrat, the Executive Board chairman of the Syarikat Islam (a mass organization and one of the founding elements of the PPP) said in facing the 2014 general elections, PPP needs a strong and experienced leader to manage the party.
Tjakraningrat opined that Suryadharma as the PPP incumbent chairman is very appropriate to lead the party bearing the Ka`ba picture.
In facing the national political constellation, PPP needs a strong and talented leader, he said.
In addition, head of the party`s seventh national congress organizing committee Emron Pangkapi said, "no problem with the PPP leader who concurrently serves as a cabinet minister."
Pangkapi made the remark relating to a proposal about the party`s organizational structure especially to increase another deputy general chairman to become two figures.
On Suryadharma`s concurrent positions, Pangkapi said it was no problem, because the party leader can tackle both jobs well.
In the meantime, secretary to the congress steering committee Reni Marlinawati said there was a proposal to increase the party`s management personnel ranging from 40 to 53 personnel compared to the previous 37 personnel.
According to secretary of the party`s congress organizing committee Muhammad Romahurmuziy, the proposal to increase the number of deputy general chairman into two figures was aimed to make the party bigger.
Thus, the party`s general chairman will be assisted by two deputies to help tackle the external and internal affairs, Romahurmuziy said.
"One of the two deputies will handle special job mainly in facing the upcoming legislative general election, presidential election, heads of provincial, district as well as municipal elections," he said.
Apart from that, in effort to make the PPP stronger, one of the party executive board top personnel Hasrul Azwar said in Medan, North Sumatra provincial capital recently that the spirit of militancy among the party`s cadres must be raised again if the party really wants to be awakened.
Azwar expressed his concern regarding the party`s set back in some recent elections.
"We even regress in the reform era. We don`t believe it, why our party can lag behind compared with the new parties which have just emerged during the reform time," Azwar said.
Thus, Hasrul Azwar who is also the PPP faction chairman in the House of Representatives (DPR) called on the party`s cadres to immediately restore the spirit of militancy that had once existed.
"Let us revive the militant cadres as it used to be," he said, adding, at present PPP is the only Islam-based party in the country.
"If we can revive the spirit of militancy as it used to be, the PPP will regain the victorious time.
According to Azwar, the party should be able to re-win people`s sympathy through programs that benefit the people.
Suryadharma Ali has had experience as minister of cooperatives and state and medium enterprises and in the religious affairs, of course he is expected to be able to benefit the people.
(Uu.B003/HAJM/H-YH)
Reporter: by Bustanuddin
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
