PPP NTB Internal Turmoil as Muzhir and Akri Exchange Removal Orders

Internal turmoil within the PPP of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is becoming increasingly public. The conflict, which began as a tug-of-war over party leadership, has now spilled into the NTB Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), after two PPP cadres and assembly members, Muzhir and Mohammad Akri, exchanged letters of removal.

PPP NTB Provincial Chairperson Muzhir first sent a removal letter stripping Mohammad Akri of his position as PPP Franchise Chair of the NTB DPRD. The letter was read by DPRD Secretary Hendra Saputra during a plenary session on Monday, 25 May 2026.

The letter altered the leadership structure of the PPP Franchise in the NTB DPRD, transferring the chairmanship from Mohammad Akri. Shortly after, Hendra read another letter from Akri’s faction temporarily suspending Muzhir from his role as Deputy Chair of the NTB DPRD for the 2024-2029 term.

“The PPP NTB Franchise leadership structure has been revised: Muhammad Akri’s previous role as Franchise Chair is now as a member; Muzhir, previously a member, is now Franchise Chair; Sitti Ari, previously a member, is now Franchise Secretary; Muhammad Ruslan remains Deputy Chair; Rohaiman remains a member; Marga Harun, previously Franchise Secretary, is now a member; and Rusli Mangawari remains a member,” Hendra stated while reading the letter from Muzhir.

A letter from Akri’s faction, numbered 05/F.PPP/DPRD/NTB/V/2026, was also read out. It temporarily suspended Muzhir from his position as Deputy Chair of the NTB DPRD.

Roots of the Dispute Lie in Status Quo Leadership

Mohammad Akri responded calmly to the letter removing him as PPP Franchise Chair of the NTB DPRD. He also addressed the suspension letter against Muzhir as Deputy Chair of the NTB DPRD, sent alongside Franchise Secretary Marga Harun.

According to Akri, the suspension of Muzhir relates to the current leadership status of PPP NTB. He believes Muzhir’s decree dismissing him as Regional Secretary of PPP NTB was not properly handled by the General Chairman and Secretary General.

“One was handled by General Chairman Mardiono but not Secretary General Taj Yasin. I believe there are internal issues that we need to resolve together,” Akri said when asked about the suspension request for Muzhir from the Deputy Chair position on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Akri stressed that the franchise letter submitted to the NTB DPRD leadership to suspend Muzhir was a response to the unilateral replacement of the PPP Franchise Chair position.

“I want the party to not escalate further internally. Therefore, this is a balance. Our franchise is a legislative body tool (AKD),” he stated firmly.

As an AKD (legislative body tool), Akri said the franchise has the right to suspend DPRD leadership if they are deemed to violate PPP NTB statutes.

“The franchise is an extension of the party. Legally and regulation-wise, Secretary General Taj Yasin has the authority to nullify the decrees issued by the PPP NTB Provincial Board under Muzhir’s leadership,” he said.

In the PPP Provincial Board decree signed by Muzhir, Akri noted that Secretary General Taj Yasin never signed the decree dismissing him as Regional Secretary of PPP NTB and replacing him with Siti Ari.

“So the DPP (Central Leadership) never had the Secretary General’s signature. Please verify the validity of the decree held by him (Muzhir). Therefore, the issued decree and its derivatives are legally void,” he said.

Mutual Dismissals Should Not Be Publicised

Akri stated that the two letters read out by the NTB DPRD Secretary—those removing him as PPP Franchise Chair and suspending Muzhir from DPRD leadership—should not be made public.

“This is merely an internal matter that has not yet been discussed collectively. I believe so. It’s a matter of consultation; the leadership will decide on the letters we submitted. As for the continuation of the issue, I won’t comment. That’s my view,” he said.

Akri also urged NTB DPRD Chair Baiq Isvie Rupaeda to act wisely in handling the submitted letters.

“These letters are notifications to the DPRD Chair indicating that the party remains in status quo. No positions have been legally resolved yet. Including the bylaws and leadership, I believe this has already been heard,” he said.

Akri stressed that the mutual dismissal dispute was purely a communication issue between his faction and Muzhir.

“Who dismissed me was our leader (Muzhir); we, as franchise chair and secretary, also have the right to suspend (dismiss) our leadership. Because the DPRD leadership is an AKD,” he said.

He deemed the suspension of DPRD leadership lawful when based on clear grounds and in accordance with Law No. 17 of 2014 on the House of Representatives (MD3).

Muzhir Deems Akri’s Moves Unusual

Previously, PPP NTB Provincial Chair Muzhir denied the claims of his and DPW PPP NTB Secretary Siti Ari’s dismissal via a notification letter signed by PPP Secretary General Taj Yasin Maimoen.

Muzhir explained that the DPW PPP NTB leadership under his and Secretary Siti Ari’s stewardship remains organisationally valid as it refers to a decree (SK) recognised by the government and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

“I want to clarify. There is no such thing as dismissal. I do not refer to it as a decree because, in my view, it does not meet the requirements of an official organisational document,” Muzhir stated firmly at the DPW PPP NTB office on Thursday afternoon, 21 May 2026.

The NTB DPRD Deputy Chair stressed that strategic decisions in political parties cannot be made solely by the Secretary General. According to him, the official national PPP leadership falls under General Chairman Mardiono.

“Therefore, all organisational policies must comply with the party’s bylaws and legal regulations. Thus, Secretary General Taj Yasin does not have prerogative powers within the organisation,” he stated firmly.

Muzhir also believes the Secretary General Taj Yasin does not have sole authority to determine