Alwi's PKB ready to change name
Alwi's PKB ready to change name
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Awakening Party (PKB) under Alwi Shihab announced on
Wednesday a plan to change its name in anticipation of a long and
energy-sapping legal battle with its splinter group led by Matori
Abdul Djalil.
The party's deputy chairman Mahfud MD told reporters at its
headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, that a court battle
would harm its preparations for the 2004 general elections.
"We are optimistic about our chances of winning our claim, but
we just anticipate the possibility of an unfinished legal process
prior to the general election that will result in disadvantages
to both the conflicting camps.
"That's why we plan to change our party's name just to make us
ready for the general election," Mahfud said, adding that Matori
might buy time to force Alwi's PKB to accept unwanted compromise.
The formal decision to change the Muslim-based party's name
will be made during its anniversary celebrations on July 23.
The election law forbids duplication of a party name. All
parties contesting the next election have to register themselves
with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
PKB dismissed Matori as the party's chairman last July for
attending the Special Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) that resulted in the ouster of then president
Abdurrahman Wahid, a PKB founder. Matori was also one of deputies
to the MPR speaker when the session, which was boycotted by the
PKB, took place.
Matori founded his own party, also under the name of PKB,
after being appointed the minister of defense. Legal settlement
was unavoidable as both camps failed to reconcile.
Mahfud said on Wednesday his party had also offered Matori a
settlement through mediation.
Also in the day, Alwi held informal talks with deputy MPR
speaker Sutjipto, who is the secretary general of the ruling
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.
Alwi said the meeting was aimed at maintaining close ties
between Muslim and nationalist wings.
PKB under Alwi has long demanded that the assembly approve the
nomination of Cholil Bisri as the replacement of Matori.
Alwi said he would soon meet MPR speaker Amien Rais to remind
him of his promise to help solve the dispute.