Two PPP Members in NTB Legislature Exchange Dismissal Letters, Isvie Refers Dispute to Party
Internal strife within the National Development Party (PPP) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is escalating. Two party members serving in the NTB Regional House of Representatives, Muzhir and Mohammad Akri, have exchanged dismissal letters.
Amid the conflict, NTB Regional House of Representatives Speaker Baiq Isvie Rupaeda has referred the matter back to the party for internal resolution.
PPP NTB Provincial Chairperson Muzhir initially sent a letter dismissing Mohammad Akri from his position as PPP parliamentary faction chair. Secretary of the NTB Regional House of Representatives, Hendra Saputra, read the letter during a plenary session on Monday, 25 May 2026.
The letter altered the leadership structure of the PPP parliamentary faction in the NTB Regional House. Mohammad Akri, previously faction chair, was replaced. Shortly after, Hendra read another letter from Akri’s camp suspending Muzhir from his position as NTB Regional House Deputy Speaker for the 2024-2029 term.
‘The PPP NTB faction leadership structure is as follows: Muhammad Akri was previously faction chair, now a member; Muzhir was previously a member, now faction chair; Sitti Ari was previously a member, now faction secretary; Muhammad Ruslan remains deputy chair; Rohaiman remains a member; Marga Harun was previously faction secretary, now a member; Rusli Mangawari remains a member,’ Hendra stated while reading Muzhir’s incoming letter.
A reply letter from Akri’s camp, numbered 05/F.PPP/DPRD/NTB/V/2026, was also read out. It temporarily suspended Muzhir from his role as Deputy Speaker of the NTB Regional House.
In response to the controversy, NTB Regional House Speaker Baiq Isvie Rupaeda stated her institution could not take a stance on the two letters received.
‘We refer back to party regulations,’ Isvie said after the plenary session.
According to Isvie, the NTB Regional House merely receives and reads the letters in plenary sessions as per procedure. The conflict resolution is entirely left to PPP NTB.
‘We will return this matter to the party’s internal regulations,’ she added.
Muzhir Calls His Suspension ‘Unusual’
PPP NTB Provincial Chairperson Muzhir questioned Mohammad Akri’s move to issue a suspension letter for his position as Deputy Speaker. He deemed the action unusual.
‘Today we see the letter sent. Is there anyone in the world where a secretary dismisses a chairperson? Find one,’ he said.
Muzhir insisted that, both organisationally and legally, a secretary has never dismissed a chairperson. He also questioned the basis of the meeting used for the decision.
‘Prove it. He must have held a meeting with whom. The dismissal of a Regional House Deputy Speaker is handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the party,’ he said.
According to Muzhir, the position of NTB Regional House Deputy Speaker cannot be easily removed as it is appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
‘So it’s that easy for me to be dismissed by the faction chair? During the faction meeting, Akri and Marga Harun were absent. So it wasn’t a dismissal but a position shift,’ Muzhir insisted.
Mohammad Akri’s Response
Mohammad Akri responded calmly to the letter dismissing him as PPP faction chair. He also addressed the suspension letter against Muzhir as Deputy Speaker, sent alongside PPP faction secretary Marga Harun.
According to Akri, the suspension of Muzhir relates to the current leadership status of PPP NTB. He argued that Muzhir’s decree dismissing him as PPP NTB Regional Secretary was not properly handled by the General Chairman and Secretary General.
‘Only the General Chairman, Mardiono, handled it without Secretary General Taj Yasin. I believe there are internal issues we need to resolve together,’ Akri stated when questioned about the suspension request for Muzhir’s Deputy Speaker position.