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.