Alwi's camp gears up for PKB congress

Alwi's camp gears up for PKB congress

SURABAYA: The splinter group of the National Awakening Party (PKB) led by chief welfare minister Alwi Shihab is preparing to stage a national congress in Surabaya on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.

"Preparations for the congress are 90 percent complete and we have coordinated with various sides to ensure the event is a success," deputy committee chairman Balyan Firjaun said on Monday.

He said the two-day meeting would be held in the Sukolilo haj dormitory. Alwi is expected to retain his leadership and State Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saefullah Yusuf his current position as secretary-general of the group.

The committee said around 2,500 participants from the PKB's 32 provincial branches and 390 regental branches would be in attendance.

Alwi's camp does not recognize the PKB leadership of House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, who is a loyal confidante of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

The leadership split followed the dismissal of Alwi and Saefullah as the PKB chairman and secretary general respectively by the Muhaimin faction in October last year. --Antara