Internal rift could cost PKB support of 'kyai'

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After winning its legal battle with former chairman Matori Abdul Djalil, the National Awakening Party (PKB) is facing more infighting that could affect its traditional ties with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

The new internal conflict surfaced after PKB's advisory body voted late on Monday to suspend the party's secretary-general, Syaifullah Yusuf, for alleged violations of its policies. It replaced him with Muhyidin Arubusman, the incumbent NU secretary- general, in a meeting presided over by PKB chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

PKB executive Cholil Bisri, who is also a deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, said on Tuesday the party's executive board rejected the advisory body's decision and considered Syaifullah to be the legitimate secretary-general.

Cholil said the party was complying with an order from NU senior clerics, called the Kyai Langitan, asking the party to consolidate and maintain harmony ahead of the 2004 legislative elections.

"The kyai wrote the party's executive board, asking us not to conduct a reshuffle but instead intensify party consolidation prior to the 2004 general elections," Cholil said after a meeting with NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi on Tuesday.

Cholil was referring to influential NU clerics Abdullah Faqih, Abdurrahman Chudlori, Muhaiminan Gunardo, Idris Marzuqi and Mas Subadar.

Syaifullah also attended the meeting on Tuesday with Hasyim at the NU office on Jl. Kramat Raya.

Cholil said the recommendation to suspend Syaifullah stemmed from a personal dispute between the party secretary-general and Gus Dur.

Syaifullah said he was considering filing a defamation lawsuit against Gus Dur, who is a distant relative.

"I was never asked to defend myself. If the advisory body refuses to act transparently, I will file a defamation lawsuit against them," Syaifullah said.

Hasyim refused to comment on the dispute, but warned that the NU clerics would be disappointed with the PKB if it followed the recommendation to suspend Syaifullah.

"Gus Dur has to realize that he is facing influential kyai who will play a prominent role in PKB's bid to win the next general election," Hasyim said. The NU, the country's largest Muslim organization, has some 40,000 followers nationwide.

Syaifullah was accused by the advisory board of repeatedly violating PKB's policies, including his proposal to change the party's name to the Nation Awakening Party (PKN).

Syaifullah said the new name would prevent a lengthy legal battle with Matori, the former party chairman and the minister of defense who at the time was claiming to represent the party.

He also said the new name would accelerate the verification process at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, which is necessary to contest the 2004 elections.

The secretary-general was also accused of reaching a compromise with Matori without first consulting the executive board.

During the meeting on Monday evening, 16 members of the 19- strong PKB advisory board voted on the fate of Syaifullah. Nine of the members, including Gus Dur, voted for Syaifullah's suspension, while seven, including Cholil Bisri, voted against the motion.

The same advisory board recommended Matori's dismissal as the party chairman in 2001, after he attended the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly that led to the impeachment of then president Gus Dur. That recommendation was approved by the party's executive board.