PKN, a lifeboat for Alwi's PKB

PKN, a lifeboat for Alwi's PKB

JAKARTA: Alwi Shihab officially introduced the National Awakening Party (PKN) on Saturday as a possible new name (in Bahasa Indonesia) for his National Awakening Party (PKB).

The new name was officially announced last week, during the party's plenary meeting.

Alwi asserted that his party would officially use the new name, pending a legal dispute with Matori Abdul Djalil, currently minister of defense.

Both Matori and Alwi are fighting to use the name PKB.

However, Alwi's deputy, Moh. Mahfud, said that Alwi's PKB would still use the name, as the Supreme Court had decided last Friday that Matori's dismissal from PKB was lawful.

The decision implied that Matori had no right to use the name PKB any longer.

The dispute between Matori and Alwi began in 2000 when Matori, then chairman of PKB, attended a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which led to the downfall of PKB patron, president Abdurrahman Wahid. -- JP