PBR factions agree to reunite

PBR factions agree to reunite

JAKARTA: The Reform Star Party (PBR) has ended its internal
rift during a meeting mediated by Aksa Mahmud, a deputy speaker
of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) who is also a Golkar
Party member.

Aksa was reportedly ordered by Vice President and Golkar
leader Jusuf Kalla to help overcome the PBR dispute.

Aksa said on Tuesday that noted Muslim preacher Zainuddin MZ
will remain the PBR leader, with Zaenal Ma'arif, who earlier held
the top post in the party's splinter camp, being one of his
deputies.

Zainuddin apologized to the public for the internal rift,
saying he hopes the reconciliation would boost the party's image.

The internal conflict followed a bitter dispute over the
contested election of Zainuddin as the PBR chairman last year.
Zaenal and a number of other senior party members later set up a
splinter faction in protest against the election result. --JP