Amien says PAN split over poor poll showing

JAKARTA (JP): National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais admitted on Tuesday that several members of the party would quit over disappointment with the party's poor performance in June's general election.

"I've heard about it. And I'll be the first person to be disappointed if they go ahead with their plan to set up a new party," Amien told reporters at the House of Representatives.

He was commenting on a group of PAN members led by secretary- general Faisal Basri who reportedly plan to found a breakaway party called the Nusantara Mandate Party (PANU).

PAN, one of the many political parties which came into existence following the fall of former president Soeharto last year, won 7 percent of the vote in the polls for 34 House seats. But Amien's mastery in politics made the tiny party an influential player in the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in October.

During the Assembly session Amien was elected MPR speaker and his presidential nominee, Abdurrahman Wahid, won the presidential race.

Amien said the split was evidence that he had failed to consolidate factions within PAN.

"However it's their right to set up a party," Amien said.

PAN executive Hatta Radjasa shared Amien's view, saying that he would suggest the party let Faisal go.

"Faisal is not a threat to PAN," Hatta, who chairs the Reform faction which comprises PAN and the Justice Party at the House, said.

Reports said that PAN had long been divided into two factions: the nationalist-oriented wing led by Faisal and the Islamic- oriented camp led by Amien.

Despite his key position in the party, Faisal did not secure a seat either in the House or the Assembly. Many PAN representatives in the two state institutions are supporters of Amien.

The split was believed to have widened when Faisal openly supported Megawati Soekarnoputri for the presidency, while Amien forged a coalition involving Muslim-based parties called the "axis force" to nominate Abdurrahman.

Faisal denied on Monday that he had set up PANU, saying that the foundation of the party was inspired by PAN executive Christianto Wibisono, who said that PAN no longer acted in line with its initial nationalist platform.

"I see that PAN has strayed far from the platform. I will resign if I cannot correct the party," he said as quoted by Detikcom online.

Faisal's fellow PAN executive Bara Hasibuan denied the establishment of PANU.

"We are not disappointed. We are proud of PAN because such a new party could win 7 percent," said Bara, who is in charge of international relations.

Bara said he and his friends would not leave PAN, but instead would propose improvement in the party during its congress, which is scheduled for February next year.

He suspected that a certain group in PAN who was disappointed with the small vote earning was trying to turn the party into a sectarian party. (jun)