Alwi's PKB to change name<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction led by Alwi Shihab
\nwill soon change its name to the National Awakening Party of
\nIndonesia (PKBI), following months of political dispute with the
\nrival PKB faction led Matori A. Djalil.<\/p>\n
\"The change of the party's name will be announced within the
\nnext few days,\" Alwi told reporters after meeting with the
\nchairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi, at NU's
\nheadquarters in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
NU, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, with a membership
\nof about 40 million, constitutes the mass political base for the
\nPKB.<\/p>\n
The party, was fourth in the 1999 election, after the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
\nGolkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
In a subsequent development, however, the party split last
\nyear into one faction led by Alwi and another by Matori, due to a
\nbitter dispute.<\/p>\n
Matori became the legally valid, first chairman of PKB at its
\nestablishment in 1999. Moreover, PKB was registered with the
\nIndonesian Elections Commission (KPU) by Matori.<\/p>\n
Last year, the belligerent Matori was fired by Abdurrahman
\nWahid, the patron of the party's board and an influential figure
\nwithin NU, for supporting the decision by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly to impeach Abdurrahman from the presidency.
\nMatori, however, rejected the dismissal.<\/p>\n
Knowing that he did not have broad support from the grass
\nroots and NU's leaders, Matori has, so far, rejected a request by
\nboth Alwi and Abdurrahman for the party to hold an extraordinary
\nmeeting to decide who is entitled to chair PKB.<\/p>\n
Matori's insistence led Alwi's camp to hold an extraordinary
\nmeeting in Yogyakarta early this year, where Alwi was elected as
\nits new chairman.<\/p>\n
In a bid to strengthen PKB's name, Alwi's PKB sought a legal
\nsettlement but failed, as its legality was in the hands of
\nMatori.<\/p>\n
Alwi also said that the plan to change the party's name had
\nbeen explained to Muzadi during the meeting with him at the NU
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by his deputy, Machfudz MD, Alwi denied reports
\nthat his party was seeking support from NU.<\/p>\n
\"There was nothing special about the meeting,\" Alwi told
\nreporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the name-change plan, Muzadi said that it was up
\nto PKB, as NU would remain neutral in politics.<\/p>\n
\"If they consider the name change to be for the best, then let
\nthem go ahead,\" said Muzadi.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alwis-pkb-to-change-name-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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