Cholil to be sworn in June 5

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