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