Faisal Basri to resign from PAN membership

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)