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.