Cholil to be sworn in June 5

JAKARTA: People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said on Monday the Assembly would swear in Muslim cleric Cholil Bisri on June 5 as one of seven deputy speakers, replacing Matori Abdul Djalil.

The swearing in of Cholil, who was nominated by Alwi Shihab's camp of the National Awakening Party (PKB), is expected to end a battle of words with the rival PKB camp headed by Matori.

"We have decided to inaugurate Pak Cholil on June 5," Amien said.

Amien had said earlier that the inauguration would be delayed until June 20 because of the hectic schedules of Assembly leaders.

However, the decision to move the date forward to June 5 was made following pressure from a number of Assembly factions, including the PKB, Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP).

Matori had nominated Syarif Usman Yahya for the deputy speaker post, but the Assembly threw its support behind Cholil. --JP