PPP splits, PKB unites

PPP splits, PKB unites

Ahmad Junaidi
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

A split in the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) has
affected its members on the city council, but councillors from
the National Awakening Party (PKB) are still united under former
president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Only, councillor Djafar Badjeber, who was the PPP's former
city chapter chairman, has joined the newly-established PPP
splinter party, PPP Reform, while the remaining 13 councillors,
including councillor Ali Imran Husein, are still members of the
old party -- for now.

"I'm still a PPP councillor," Ali, who is also deputy chairman
of the council commission D for development affairs, told The
Jakarta Post on Monday.

Several councillors, including the PPP's city chapter deputy
chairman Jayadi Musa, were taking "wait and see" attitudes
towards PPP Reform.

A reliable source said Jayadi had planned to attend PPP
Reform's declaration ceremony in Jakarta of Sunday, but he
canceled to deal with a family matter.

Jayadi was still waiting for an offer from PPP Reform as to
whether he would chair the party's city chapter, before he would
make a decision on leaving the PPP.

Ali said Jayadi would probably join PPP Reform but admitted he
was not really sure.

Jayadi, who is also member of the commission D, could not be
reached for comment on Monday.

Although PKB is in the midst of a similar split -- between one
group under former foreign minister Alwi Shihab, supported by
former president Gus Dur, and another led by Defense Minister
Matori Abdul Djalil -- all three PKB councillors remain loyal to
Gus Dur, the chairman of the party's board of patrons.

Councillor Tubagus Abas Soleh Makmun said none of the three
councillors attended a congress held by the party's former
chairman, Matori.

"We all attended the Yogyakarta congress," Tubagus said.

During it's congress in Yogyakarta, Abdurrahman was elected as
chief of the party's legislative body and Alwi Shihab was elected
as chairman of the party's executive body.

The PPP's city chapter announced the dismissal of Djafar from
the party last Thursday and questioned his position in the
council.

Though Djafar could not be fired based on existing
regulations, Djafar was asked to morally resign as he was elected
by PPP voters.

Djafar repeatedly said that he would uphold the law and
regulations, meaning he would stay on as the council's deputy
chairman and as a city councillor.

Djafar was one of a number of leading PPP officials, including
noted Muslim cleric Zainuddin MZ, to join PPP Reform.

The establishment of PPP Reform was believed based on the
disappointment of several of PPP's executives, especially among
its youth members, due to the postponement of the party's
congress from 2003 to 2004.

They believed the postponement would halt their political
careers as they would not be promoted.

For example, after a party congress a PPP city chapter
chairman would usually be promoted to the party's central board
and be appointed to the House of Representatives.

Opportunities to get high positions in the central government
are feasible as PPP chairman Hamzah Haz is the country's vice
president and a number of party members have been included in the
current cabinet.