PKB members withdraw support for party official

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): A National Awakening Party (PKB) official said here on Thursday that party members in the regency of Indramayu, West Java, had officially withdrawn support for one of the party's House of Representatives' members, Abdul Khalik, for his "betrayal" of the party.

Chatibul Umam Wiranu, deputy secretary-general of the PKB's central executive board, said that the regency chapter's decision to withdraw the PKB whip from Abdul Khalik in the House underlined his (Khalik's) recent dismissal from the PKB for going against the party line.

Under Indonesia's political system, a member of the legislature represents his party rather than his constituents, so that a withdrawal of the party whip means he loses his seat in the House.

"We are now considering input from the regency branches and the West Java regional board before selecting another person to replace Abdul Khalik in the House," Chatibul indicated.

Khalik, who hails from Indramayu, was accused of being a follower of Matori Abdul Djalil, the deposed chairman of the PKB central board.

Umam Wiranu also disclosed that he had received reports on the likelihood of PKB members in Tegal, Central Java, withdrawing support from Matori.

Matori was ousted from the leadership of the PKB after continuing to act as the deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly despite his party's decision to boycott the supreme legislative body.

Chatibul denied rumors of a rift in the PKB following the dismissal of the two party officials. "The PKB remains solid. Their expulsion makes us stronger in carrying out our democratic struggle," he asserted.

Emphasizing the party's uncompromising attitude toward any form of betrayal, he concluded by pointing out that nearly all of the PKB's constituency committees had voiced their support for the central board's resolute action. (45/arp)