Rival PKB leaders lobby for support

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.