Khofifah, Maria Ulfah opt to quit politics

Khofifah, Maria Ulfah opt to quit politics

A'an Suryana and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

Former state minister of womens' empowerment Khofifah Indar
Parawansa opted on Wednesday to leave politics as a consequence
of a new Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ruling that bans its executives
from holding positions in other organizations, including
political organizations.

However, Khofifah's new colleague in the National Awakening
Party (PKB) under Alwi Shihab, Syaifullah Yusuf, quit NU youth
wing Anshor to maintain his post as the PKB secretary general. NU
Youth and Student association deputy head Abdullah Azwar Anas
followed suit.

Also leaving politics was PKB deputy chairwoman Maria Ulfa.
Khofifah will concentrate on serving the NU womens' wing while
Maria pledged her loyalty to NU female youth organization.

"Concurrently serving in NU and a political party or other
organization is no longer allowed under new NU statutes.
Therefore it is the decision of the respective members to choose
either to stay or to abandon their posts in NU," NU chairman
Hasyim Muzadi said.

PKB is the largest political party with mass support from NU.
It was founded by then NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid.

According to Hasyim, Wednesday's agreement had not necessarily
been endorsed by the NU's national congress. "Since it is ruled
by the statute, it does not need approval from the NU national
meeting, and we just do it," he said.

He said the Yogyakarta congress had left the NU with homework,
including the dual role issue.

Syaifullah said that his decision to quit Anshor should be
approved by Anshor in April.

"I prefer to remain in PKB, but the decision is up to the
Anshor congress. The members of Anshor have elected me through
the congress, and now it is their right as well to decide whether
I should stay in Anshor or abandon it," Syaifullah said.

Hasyim said that the agreement did not only effect Alwi
Shihab's PKB, but also other NU members serving other
organizations as well.

"Endin J. Soefihara has relinquished his position at Anshor,
and now he is serving as executive at the United Development
Party (PPP)," he said, citing an example.

The issue of dual roles is currently being hotly debated with
most political parties currently allowing its members to hold top
positions in other organization, including the government.