Disbursement of funds for PKB postponed
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government has decided to postpone the disbursement of financial support for the National Awakening Party (PKB) until the party's internal rift is settled, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Wednesday.
Hari said that he was waiting for the decision from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to determine which faction of the party had the right to receive the fund.
"We need definite proof to verify the disbursement of the fund. The money is still there ... it is not missing," Hari said.
Currently, there are two claims to the party's chairmanship, from the incumbent Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil and Alwi Shihab, former minister of foreign affairs during president Abdurrahman Wahid's tenure.
Matori was dismissed by Abdurrahman, chief of the party's board of patrons, as Matori chose to support President Megawati Soekarnoputri's ascension to the presidency last July.
According to government regulation No. 51/2001, each of the 48 political parties, registered with the government, are eligible for financial assistance amounting to Rp 1,000 (US$0.08) per vote per annum.
In the 2001 fiscal year, the government allocated some Rp 105 billion (US$95million) for financial assistance to political parties.
Based on data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, only nine parties are entitled to receive the money, while seven other parties are not eligible to receive it due to various problems. The remaining 32 parties have yet to register to collect the fund.
When asked whether the decision was taken in favor of Matori, Hari said that he had just followed procedures and would wait for the Ministry of Justice to decide who should receive the fund.
"It is not about a person, but it's the organization that I have to consider," he added.
In a related development, in order to avoid further uncertainty, leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) are considering officiating one of the two nominees proposed by the two opposing camps in the National Awakening Party (PKB) to be the Assembly's deputy speaker to replace Matori.
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said the move should be taken because the opposing camps of Matori and of Alwi Shihab were unable to find a solution.
"Although it will possibly trigger protests, we have to take a decision if they are unable to find a solution themselves after several weeks. Why not?" Amien told the press after officiating seven new members of the Assembly here on Monday.
Amien was commenting on who would fill the post of Assembly deputy speaker, which was left vacant after Matori was appointed defense minister.
He said basically the Assembly leaders had no intention of interfering in the internal feud in PKB, but the situation had prompted the Assembly leaders to take action.
Alwi's camp has nominated senior politician Cholil Bisri to take over Matori's post at the Assembly, but Matori's camp rejected the nomination and tried to nominate another candidate.
Earlier, Amien swore in seven new Assembly members -- three from the United Development Party (PPP), two from the Reform faction, one from the Interest Group and one from the Indonesian Nationhood (KKI) faction.
They were Abduh Paddare, Anwar Malik and Barlianta Harahap (PPP), Cecep Rukmana and Zulkifli Halim (Reform), Tutty Alawiyah (Interest Group) and Birinus Joseph Rahawadan (KKI).