PKB sets up team to probe money politics

JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) has established a team to investigate chapters which have allegedly been involved in "money politics" during recent regency elections.

PKB legislator Ali Masykur Moesa said on Sunday that the team "would evaluate executives of the party's chapters".

Speaking to reporters in Malang, East Java, Ali, who has been selected as one of the five members of the team, would not elaborate on the actions the party would take if those being investigated were proven guilty or whether the results would even be made public stressing that it was an internal party matter.

Antara quoted sources in the party's East Java chapter as saying that the party had frozen five regency chapters following widespread allegations of money politics.

Generally, the controversies have centered around allegations that PKB council members received money during the regent election to vote for another party's candidate, resulting in the failure of their own nominee.

The establishment of the five-member team also added fuel to growing speculation that friction is rising within the party's central board.

However PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil refuted these suggestions to journalists on Sunday.

He claimed that the party was solid from the central board down to its chapters. (jun)