PKS leader resigns to focus on Assembly

PKS leader resigns to focus on Assembly

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leader of the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) Hidayat Nur Wahid
relinquished on Monday his chairmanship of the Muslim-based
party, saying he would concentrate on his new job as the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.

The party's executive board appointed Tifatul Sembiring,
formerly coordinator of PKS's activities for Sumatra, as the
acting chairman, pending the election of a new leader during its
congress slated for April 2005.

Speaking during a press conference to announce his
resignation, Hidayat said he was setting an example that once
politicians took up state duties, they should surrender their
party commitment to avoid conflict of interests.

"The behavior of the elite must change, as we can't expect a
sweeping reform to come soon. They should concentrate on working
for the public," Hidayat said.

Early last week, Hidayat was elected MPR speaker after beating
Sutjipto, a candidate nominated by the Nationhood Coalition
consisting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P), Golkar Party and a number of minor political parties, by just
two votes.

Hidayat was nominated by a coalition of political parties that
supported president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Outgoing and former state officials, including President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Akbar Tandjung, Hamzah Haz and Amien
Rais, have kept their top positions at their respective parties
intact.

Analysts have said due to Hidayat's rise to the Assembly's top
post, Susilo's position is now secure, as any move to impeach him
will likely be thwarted by the Assembly.

However, Hidayat countered the suggestion, saying he would not
turn the Assembly into an institution that would simply validate
any efforts to impeach or defend the president.

"Do not view the MPR as the gatekeeper for thwarting or
building strength for an impeachment," he told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Tifatul said that he would empower the party to
reach out for more constituents especially those in the rural
areas.

"Critics have said that urban population makes up most of our
constituents. We must change this, we have to campaign ourselves
down to the village level," he said.

Hidayat, assumed the party's top post since 1999 after the
then Prosperous Party (PK) leader Nur Mahmudi Ismail quit office
for joining the cabinet of president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid
administration.