Faisal Basri to resign from PAN membership
JAKARTA (JP): Noted economist Faisal Basri said on Monday that he will relinquish his membership of the National Mandate Party (PAN) due to fundamental differences of opinion with the party's stance on several principles and policies.
Faisal, who is also one of the party's founding members, further revealed that more than five other party members will submit their letters of resignation, together with his, before the end of the week.
"I have mentioned my intention to quit, but I will only give my resignation letter within the week, along with several friends.
"There is much of the party's initial agenda which cannot be completed due to the party's current condition," Faisal told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on national leadership at the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel.
He declined to mention the names of party members who will follow his lead.
Faisal said the party had sent him two warning letters since the first party congress in February 2000, regarding his alleged defiant manner.
"I was described to have been going against the party's chairman Amien Rais.
"They also accused me of slandering Fuad Bawazier (former Finance Minister). I'm very disappointed with that," he said.
He said that he would officially announce his resignation soon.
A foreseeable split shadowed the party during its first congress last year over a suggestion that the party's platform be converted from an open party to a Muslim-based one.
It was A.M. Fatwa, one of the party's deputy chairmen, who proposed that the party adopt the Islamic terms iman dan takwa (faith and devotion) in addition to its existing platform, the Pancasila, which is also the state ideology.
The idea drew congress participants into a heated debate, with party executives, including Faisal, Abdillah Thoha and Bara Hasibuan, openly disagreeing with the proposal.
PAN was founded in 1998 by figures with a nationalist vision. It quickly won the hearts of people yearning for a progressive party.
However, the party only managed to secure 7 percent of votes during the 1999 general election.
Separately, A.M. Fatwa said the party would not prevent any of its members wanting to resign, explaining that it was their personal right to quit the party.
"We are sorry about their decision. But, we will not dwell on it, although it will ruin the party's credibility ... we can never force people to stay with us, it is their choice," Fatwa told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He confirmed that the party had sent two warning letters to Faisal as a result of his actions, and his failure to attend the party's weekly meetings since last year's congress.
He also said that Faisal's recent actions had been against the party's policy.
"We will provide an explanation to our constituents about their resignation because PAN is an open party and everyone has the right to know what's happening in the party," Fatwa said, while citing that the party has yet to receive a resignation letter from Faisal. (dja)