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.