Rival PKB leaders lobby for support

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rival leaders of the divided National Awakening Party (PKB), Matori Abdul Djalil and Alwi Shihab, have been turning to key state officials in their quest for recognition.

Matori has sought backing from President Megawati Soekarnoputri while Alwi has been lobbying Vice President Hamzah Haz as well as leaders of the legislative bodies.

Both have invited the officials to attend their factions' upcoming extraordinary congresses.

Alwi claimed that he had invited the state officials in their capacity as leaders of their respective political parties. Hamzah is chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), House Speaker Akbar Tandjung heads the Golkar Party and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais leads the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Matori asserted on Thursday that his version of the PKB would go ahead with an extraordinary congress here from Jan. 14 - Jan. 16, even though the Vice President had lent support to his rival.

Matori said he had secured backing from 29 of the 30 provinces across the country and from almost all branches in the regencies.

"The claim came from pak Alwi so I am not surprised and I will have to check personally with the Vice President," Matori said in reference to a meeting between Alwi and Vice President Hamzah Haz on Wednesday. Alwi claimed that Hamzah recognized only his faction, which will hold its congress in Yogyakarta from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19.

On Thursday, Hamzah denied he had lent support to any of the opposing camps. He meant to say that he supported the idea to reconcile them.

"I hope they can resolve the conflict amicably," Hamzah said.

The party split following the fall of president Abdurrahman Wahid, PKB's founder and patron chief, last July. Abdurrahman fired Matori for supporting his impeachment but Matori maintained that he remained the party chief, arguing that only the party congress, as the highest decision-making body, had the authority to dismiss or appoint a chairman.

Earlier, Matori, who is minister of defense, had met President Megawati Soekarnoputri as part of his efforts to rally government support for his version of the party. He claimed Megawati had given him her backing.

Both Matori and Alwi have received criticism for turning to the government for support -- a practice commonplace during the authoritarian New Order era of president Soeharto.

Alwi said that he had invited Hamzah to attend the party congress in his (Hamzah's) capacity as chairman of the Muslim- based United Development Party (PPP).

Like the PKB, the PPP is also facing upheaval, specifically, a revolt by younger cadres who want to rejuvenate the party that they see as old fashioned and dominated by the older generation.

Alwi said he approached Hamzah, who has connections with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the 40-million strong Islamic organization which founded PKB, to help discipline Matori.

"We want to restore the image of NU's good reputation by showing the public that NU figures are solid," he said.

Alwi said that if Megawati was present at Matori's congress, she would disappoint not only PKB leaders but also influential NU ulemas, who supported his version of the party.