Amien blasted over Assembly post

Amien blasted over Assembly post

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Awakening Party (PKB) under Alwi Shihab criticized
on Friday People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien
Rais, for failing to grant the party a deputy speaker post at the
legislative body.

"In my opinion Amien has failed to live up to his status as a
leader because he does not comply with the Assembly's internal
rules," PKB legislator Muhaimin Iskandar told reporters on
Friday.

Because the PKB is one of the top four factions in the
Assembly, Muhaimin said PKB was entitled by internal rules to
have representation in the leadership of the MPR.

"Based on the regulation, it is clear that our camp deserves a
deputy speaker post. There is another camp trying to form a
faction but does not meet the requirements," Muhaimin said.

Amien had promised to settle the issue soon after PKB put an
end to its internal dispute, which centered on the dismissal of
PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil in July last year for attending
the Assembly special session that resulted in the ouster of
President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also the PKB founder.

The party boycotted the July session, but Matori insisted on
being present in his capacity as an Assembly deputy speaker.

The Assembly has, to this point, left the post formerly held
by Matori, vacant since his appointment as the defense minister
last August.

Matori formed a splinter group of PKB and named himself to the
top post in the breakaway party during its congress early last
month. PKB members loyal to former president Abdurrahman Wahid
held their own congress two days after Matori's and named Alwi,
the former minister of foreign affairs, as its chairman.

Despite his criticism, Muhaimin said on Friday that his party
would give the Assembly more time until the next annual session
in August to resolve the dispute.

"Please Pak Amien, Pak Sutjipto (Assembly deputy speaker
representing the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle)
and other Assembly leaders, comply with our internal rules,"
Muhaimin urged.

Most of PKB's 67 Assembly members support Alwi's leadership.

Alwi's PKB has nominated Cholil Bisri as Matori's replacement
as the Assembly deputy speaker.