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.