PKB leader meets House speaker

PKB leader meets House speaker

JAKARTA: Over a week after his election, new leader of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) splinter group Choirul Anam held
talks with House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono on
Tuesday.

Choirul said that during the meeting he urged House leadership
not to take any decision regarding the existence of the PKB
faction, pending a court settlement of the party's internal
conflict.

Agung, however, refused to reveal the substance of the
meeting. "Nothing special was discussed. It was a meeting between
old acquaintances and we just shook hands," he said.

Choirul avoided an encounter with deputy House speaker
Muhaimin Iskandar, who leads the government-sanctioned PKB.

The House leadership has recognized the PKB under Muhaimin
after a district court declared the party leaders' dismissal of
Alwi Shihab and Syaifullah Yusuf as its leader and secretary
general last year legitimate. -- Antara