[1] The party began as a movement within the United Development Party (PPP) to depose Vice-president Hamzah Haz from the chairmanship, which he held for the 1998–2003 term, as it was felt he would not have time to run the party and hold the vice-presidency.

The movement's leader was Zainuddin MZ, an Islamic preacher and chairman of the party's central leadership.

After a meeting between the discontents and Hamzah Haz, Hamzah agreed to accommodate the demands of Zainuddin's group for a restructuring and regeneration of the PPP leadership.

A "Team of 7" was established to undertake the changes, but Zainuddin sent the PPP leadership a letter stating that he was not prepared to sit on the team as it was not in accordance with party rules.

[4] In the 2004 Indonesian legislative elections, the party won 2.4% of the popular vote and 14 out of 550 seats and established its own faction in the People's Representative Council.