Faisal Baasyir quits PPP post

JAKARTA: United Development Party (PPP) senior politician Faisal Baasyir resigned on Tuesday as a member of the party's advisory council, saying party executives consistently failed to heed the council's advice.

"I submitted my resignation letter today, but I already sent a short message on Sunday to the party chairman," Faisal said, referring to PPP leader Hamzah Haz, who is also the Vice President.

Faisal said his resignation was also triggered by the PPP's decision to continue its coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), whose leader Megawati Soekarnoputri will contest the presidential election runoff in September.

He predicted the coalition would backfire on the PPP because the majority of voters, especially those in eastern Indonesia, would back Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the runoff. -- Antara