18 Facts About Hamzah Haz

Hamzah Haz was the ninth vice president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004 under President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Hamzah Haz chaired the United Development Party from 1998 to 2007, and was the party's presidential candidate in the 2004 Indonesian presidential election.

Hamzah Haz was a newspaper journalist in his home town of Pontianak, on the island of Borneo, and later taught economics at Tanjungpura University.

Hamzah Haz was a lecturer at Tanjungpura University from 1968 to 1971.

Hamzah Haz later moved to Jakarta, became a member of the Parliament in 1971, representing the Jakarta electoral district, first as a member of the Muslim Nahdlatul Ulama Party.

Hamzah Haz served as member of People's Representative Council over 26 years and made him one of the longest-serving members of the Parliament of Indonesia.

Hamzah Haz ran against Megawati Sukarnoputri for the vice presidency, winning 284 votes to Megawati's 396,.

Hamzah Haz became a vocal critic of Wahid, but he was known for his ability to compromise.

Hamzah Haz was reported to be a friend of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is the spiritual leader for the terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah.

Hamzah Haz "has supported Jemaah Islamiyah and has even been instrumental in having its members released from detention in the past", according to Tim Lindsey, director of the Asian Law Centre at the University of Melbourne.

In 2002 Hamzah Haz gave an interview to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which broadcast it on 23 October.

Hamzah Haz had been criticised for publicly associating with several of Indonesia's more hardline Islamic leaders, including Ba'asyir, although after the Bali terrorist attack Hamzah Haz severed those ties.

Hamzah Haz's son Nur Agus Haz, is a member of parliament for the United Development Party.

Hamzah Haz was a long-time cadre and senior figure of Nahdlatul Ulama, had served in various posts in the organization since he was a university student.

Hamzah Haz was disciple of Idham Chalid, a charismatic South Kalimantan Ulama and politician, and received political, religious, and spiritual training and guidance from him.

Sometimes known as Dr Hamzah Haz, he was reported to have obtained a PhD from American World University, an internet diploma mill, for US$1,200.

Hamzah Haz died at the Tegalan Clinic, Matraman in East Jakarta, on 24 July 2024, at the age of 84.

Hamzah Haz was buried in a private family burial plot near the mosque he built at Cisarua, Bogor.