Internal rift could cost PKB support of 'kyai'

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.