Amien blasted over Assembly post<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) under Alwi Shihab criticized
\non Friday People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien
\nRais, for failing to grant the party a deputy speaker post at the
\nlegislative body.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion Amien has failed to live up to his status as a
\nleader because he does not comply with the Assembly's internal
\nrules,\" PKB legislator Muhaimin Iskandar told reporters on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Because the PKB is one of the top four factions in the
\nAssembly, Muhaimin said PKB was entitled by internal rules to
\nhave representation in the leadership of the MPR.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the regulation, it is clear that our camp deserves a
\ndeputy speaker post. There is another camp trying to form a
\nfaction but does not meet the requirements,\" Muhaimin said.<\/p>\n
Amien had promised to settle the issue soon after PKB put an
\nend to its internal dispute, which centered on the dismissal of
\nPKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil in July last year for attending
\nthe Assembly special session that resulted in the ouster of
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also the PKB founder.<\/p>\n
The party boycotted the July session, but Matori insisted on
\nbeing present in his capacity as an Assembly deputy speaker.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has, to this point, left the post formerly held
\nby Matori, vacant since his appointment as the defense minister
\nlast August.<\/p>\n
Matori formed a splinter group of PKB and named himself to the
\ntop post in the breakaway party during its congress early last
\nmonth. PKB members loyal to former president Abdurrahman Wahid
\nheld their own congress two days after Matori's and named Alwi,
\nthe former minister of foreign affairs, as its chairman.<\/p>\n
Despite his criticism, Muhaimin said on Friday that his party
\nwould give the Assembly more time until the next annual session
\nin August to resolve the dispute.<\/p>\n
\"Please Pak Amien, Pak Sutjipto (Assembly deputy speaker
\nrepresenting the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle)
\nand other Assembly leaders, comply with our internal rules,\"
\nMuhaimin urged.<\/p>\n
Most of PKB's 67 Assembly members support Alwi's leadership.<\/p>\n
Alwi's PKB has nominated Cholil Bisri as Matori's replacement
\nas the Assembly deputy speaker.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amien-blasted-over-assembly-post-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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