PKB members withdraw support for party official

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regency of Indramayu, West Java, had officially withdrawn support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)