F-UG to set up own party

F-UG to set up own party

JAKARTA: After being thrown out of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), members of the Interest Group (F-UG) faction have decided to set up their own political party.

"The fact that F-UG is no longer in the MPR is difficult to accept but we don't have to regret it. F-UG is not as bad as many people have thought and so we have decided to set up our own political party," F-UG member Siti Hartati Murdaya was quoted as saying on Sunday.

MPR members, in their annual session that ended on Sunday, agreed to scrap F-UG's presence in the country's legislative body from 2004.

Currently F-UG has 65 members in the MPR representing various religious and intellectual groups as well as associations. Their presence has been considered an anomaly as their members are not elected but appointed.

Hartati Murdaya said the political party would focus on social services rather than power.