Two councilors urged to resign

JAKARTA (JP): A group of 50 members of the United Development Party (PPP) have asked the party's Jakarta chapter chairman Rusjdi Hamka and his brother Affif Hamka to leave their posts at the City Council.

The group coordinator, Andy M. Sholeh, accused Rusjdi, who is deputy council speaker, of acting nepotistically in recruiting Affif as a councilor for the 1998/2003 term.

His brother is now deputy chairman of Council Commission E for social welfare.

"Our move is in reaction to the council's recent promise to bring an end to collusion, corruption and nepotism in their affairs.

"For that reason we urge Rusjdi and Affif to step down," Sholeh told council speaker Edy Waluyo.

Rusjdi and Affif are sons of the late Hamka, one of the country's most respected ulemas.

According to Edy, the council had earlier received a similar request from the PPP Central Jakarta branch office demanding three of the parties' councilors -- Affif, Ali Imran Husein and Azwar Abbas -- resign for the same reasons.

However, the chapter gave no further details, Edy said.

"Principally, it's the party's responsibility to take action against their members," he said.

Rusjdi and Affif were not available to comment yesterday, but colleagues Ali and Azwar denied the accusations and said they were recruited through a legal process.

"I was brought onto the council because of my experience in the party since 1982," said Ali. (ind)