Influential ulemas turn down Alwi's offer<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) under Alwi Shihab said on
\nThursday that several influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ulemas had
\ndeclined the party's offer to take up posts on its new board of
\nexecutives.<\/p>\n
The party's deputy chairman, Mahfud MD, cited organization
\npolicy as the most likely reason for the refusal.<\/p>\n
During the NU's five-yearly congress in Kediri, East Java
\nthree years ago, it adopted a ruling that barred its serving
\nexecutives from holding a position in other organizations.<\/p>\n
Mahfud maintained that the ulemas would not withdraw their
\nsupport for the party.<\/p>\n
\"The ulemas, perhaps, just do not want to formally involve
\nthemselves in the party's activities. They support our party from
\nbehind the stage,\" Mahfud told a press conference at the party's
\nheadquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
For the PKB, the presence of NU ulemas is decisive, since the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization provides a mass support
\nbase for the party.<\/p>\n
The party was founded by, among others, Abdurrahman Wahid, a
\nformer NU chairman who was elected president after the 1999
\ngeneral election. He was impeached last year.<\/p>\n
Rumors are circulating that among the ulemas who declined the
\nPKB's offer were Abdullah Abbas from the NU's West Java chapter
\nand Irfan Zidni, who is a member of the NU's central executive
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Irfan Zidni was apparently asked to serve as the deputy
\nchairman of the party's patrons, while Abdullah Abbas was to
\nserve as another patron.<\/p>\n
Also present at the press conference were Saifullah Yusuf, the
\nparty's secretary general and Khofifah Indarparawangsa, the
\ndeputy secretary general of the party's board of patrons.<\/p>\n
Khofifah denied reports that the influential ulemas had
\ncanceled their support for Alwi's PKB. She said the respected
\nclerics were just reluctant to join the party's formal structure.<\/p>\n
She said that the party executives were now shortlisting and
\ncontacting names, including the ulemas, to be listed later in the
\nparty's formal structures.<\/p>\n
\"Some have confirmed that they would join the party, but
\nothers have not given their confirmation yet. However, we still
\nhave time,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Khofifah said that the extraordinary meeting in Yogyakarta,
\nheld from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19 last week, had ordered the party's
\nexecutive to complete the organization of the party's structure
\nby the end of this month.<\/p>\n
In a related development, another party executive and cleric,
\nNur Iskandar, tendered on Thursday his resignation from the
\nparty's executive board. He has refused to reveal what prompted
\nhis decision.<\/p>\n
\"Since the beginning, I have devoted myself to propagation of
\nIslam, and I'd like to go back to my original world. This means I
\nhave to quit politics,\" he was quoted by Antara news agency as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
He has not revealed yet when he formally steps down.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Alwi's PKB is considering legal and political moves
\nto end its prolonged dispute with the rival PKB splinter group
\nunder Matori Abdul Djalil.<\/p>\n
Matori was dismissed from PKB last year but then founded a
\nsplinter group, which also claims to have the rights over the
\nparty's name and other symbols.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said the party's response, including the possibility of
\nlegal action, would be declared publicly next week.<\/p>\n
\"Filing a lawsuit against Matori's PKB is one of our options.
\nThat possibility is kept wide open,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
Efforts to reconcile the two camps have failed.<\/p>\n
Election laws forbid the use of the same name and symbols by
\nmore than one political party which contests the elections.<\/p>",
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