Megawati approves Bisri's bid for MPR key post

Megawati approves Bisri's bid for MPR key post

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will soon issue a decree to
appoint Muslim cleric Cholil Bisri to fill the post of deputy
speaker in the People's Consultative Assembly.

Roy B. Janis, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House of
Representatives, quoted Megawati as telling PDI Perjuangan cadres
on Tuesday that she had no objection to the appointment of
Cholil. Megawati is also chairman of PDI Perjuangan.

The appointment has been shrouded in controversy as the former
deputy speaker, Matori Abdul Djalil who is now Minister of
Defense, had proposed his own candidate to fill the post.

Bisri, a legislator from the National Awakening Party faction
(FKB), was elected by a majority vote at the People's
Consultative Assembly last week to fill the position left vacant
by Matori.

Legislators from Cholil's faction have repeatedly asked the
government to issue a presidential decree for his appointment.

Matori, now considered a dissident by the National Awakening
Party (PKB) -- the political party of former President
Abdurrahman Wahid -- for supporting Megawati, established a
splinter group, also named PKB.

Presently, there are two PKBs, one led by Matori and the other
by Alwi Shihab. Megawati's approval of Bisri, who is from Alwi's
group, signifies her support for Alwi's faction.