PKS leader resigns to focus on Assembly<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Leader of the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) Hidayat Nur Wahid
\nrelinquished on Monday his chairmanship of the Muslim-based
\nparty, saying he would concentrate on his new job as the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.<\/p>\n
The party's executive board appointed Tifatul Sembiring,
\nformerly coordinator of PKS's activities for Sumatra, as the
\nacting chairman, pending the election of a new leader during its
\ncongress slated for April 2005.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a press conference to announce his
\nresignation, Hidayat said he was setting an example that once
\npoliticians took up state duties, they should surrender their
\nparty commitment to avoid conflict of interests.<\/p>\n
\"The behavior of the elite must change, as we can't expect a
\nsweeping reform to come soon. They should concentrate on working
\nfor the public,\" Hidayat said.<\/p>\n
Early last week, Hidayat was elected MPR speaker after beating
\nSutjipto, a candidate nominated by the Nationhood Coalition
\nconsisting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP), Golkar Party and a number of minor political parties, by just
\ntwo votes.<\/p>\n
Hidayat was nominated by a coalition of political parties that
\nsupported president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Outgoing and former state officials, including President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, Akbar Tandjung, Hamzah Haz and Amien
\nRais, have kept their top positions at their respective parties
\nintact.<\/p>\n
Analysts have said due to Hidayat's rise to the Assembly's top
\npost, Susilo's position is now secure, as any move to impeach him
\nwill likely be thwarted by the Assembly.<\/p>\n
However, Hidayat countered the suggestion, saying he would not
\nturn the Assembly into an institution that would simply validate
\nany efforts to impeach or defend the president.<\/p>\n
\"Do not view the MPR as the gatekeeper for thwarting or
\nbuilding strength for an impeachment,\" he told reporters here.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tifatul said that he would empower the party to
\nreach out for more constituents especially those in the rural
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"Critics have said that urban population makes up most of our
\nconstituents. We must change this, we have to campaign ourselves
\ndown to the village level,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hidayat, assumed the party's top post since 1999 after the
\nthen Prosperous Party (PK) leader Nur Mahmudi Ismail quit office
\nfor joining the cabinet of president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid
\nadministration.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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