Faisal Basri to resign from PAN membership<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Noted economist Faisal Basri said on Monday that
\nhe will relinquish his membership of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) due to fundamental differences of opinion with the party's
\nstance on several principles and policies.<\/p>\n
Faisal, who is also one of the party's founding members,
\nfurther revealed that more than five other party members will
\nsubmit their letters of resignation, together with his, before
\nthe end of the week.<\/p>\n
\"I have mentioned my intention to quit, but I will only give
\nmy resignation letter within the week, along with several
\nfriends.<\/p>\n
\"There is much of the party's initial agenda which cannot be
\ncompleted due to the party's current condition,\" Faisal told
\nreporters on the sidelines of a seminar on national leadership at
\nthe Sari Pan Pacific Hotel.<\/p>\n
He declined to mention the names of party members who will
\nfollow his lead.<\/p>\n
Faisal said the party had sent him two warning letters since
\nthe first party congress in February 2000, regarding his alleged
\ndefiant manner.<\/p>\n
\"I was described to have been going against the party's
\nchairman Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
\"They also accused me of slandering Fuad Bawazier (former
\nFinance Minister). I'm very disappointed with that,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that he would officially announce his resignation
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
A foreseeable split shadowed the party during its first
\ncongress last year over a suggestion that the party's platform be
\nconverted from an open party to a Muslim-based one.<\/p>\n
It was A.M. Fatwa, one of the party's deputy chairmen, who
\nproposed that the party adopt the Islamic terms iman dan takwa
\n(faith and devotion) in addition to its existing platform, the
\nPancasila, which is also the state ideology.<\/p>\n
The idea drew congress participants into a heated debate, with
\nparty executives, including Faisal, Abdillah Thoha and Bara
\nHasibuan, openly disagreeing with the proposal.<\/p>\n
PAN was founded in 1998 by figures with a nationalist vision.
\nIt quickly won the hearts of people yearning for a progressive
\nparty.<\/p>\n
However, the party only managed to secure 7 percent of votes
\nduring the 1999 general election.<\/p>\n
Separately, A.M. Fatwa said the party would not prevent any of
\nits members wanting to resign, explaining that it was their
\npersonal right to quit the party.<\/p>\n
\"We are sorry about their decision. But, we will not dwell on
\nit, although it will ruin the party's credibility ... we can
\nnever force people to stay with us, it is their choice,\" Fatwa
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the party had sent two warning letters to
\nFaisal as a result of his actions, and his failure to attend the
\nparty's weekly meetings since last year's congress.<\/p>\n
He also said that Faisal's recent actions had been against the
\nparty's policy.<\/p>\n
\"We will provide an explanation to our constituents about
\ntheir resignation because PAN is an open party and everyone has
\nthe right to know what's happening in the party,\" Fatwa said,
\nwhile citing that the party has yet to receive a resignation
\nletter from Faisal. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/faisal-basri-to-resign-from-pan-membership-1447893297",
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