PAN postpones congress

JAKARTA: The National Mandate Party's (PAN) second national congress has been rescheduled to April 7-10 to allow party members to focus on how they can assist relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra.

PAN's deputy secretary general Ambia Boestami said that the postponement of the congress, initially scheduled for early February, was an expression of their concern about the disaster and was not due to any preparation problems.

PAN members will select a new leader for the next five-year period. Incumbent Amien Rais has decided not to re-nominate. Several names have been mentioned as front-runners, including economist Didiek Rachbini, legislator Patrialis Akbar, and Muhammadiyah figure Dien Syamsuddin. --Antara