KPU delays decision on dueling PKBs

Jakarta, NU Online
With the deadline for political parties to register for next year's elections just two days away, the fate of the rival camps of the divided National Awakening Party (PKB) hangs in the balance.

General Elections Commission (KPU) member Andi Nurpati said Friday the poll body was still debating options for settling the dual leadership of the party, which forms the fifth-largest faction at the House of Representatives.<>

"We are still analyzing the dispute from the perspective of the election law and other regulations," she was quoted by The Jakartapost as saying.

"We will make a decision on it in a later meeting."

The options include allowing both the rival PKB camps to register with the KPU or extending the registration period.

"The KPU is facing a dilemma with the PKB issue. One article in the election law validates the PKB's eligibility to contest the upcoming elections, but another article requires it to pass the verification process because of the split," Andi said.

The registration period ends on May 12.

The KPU will conduct an administrative verification of new parties for the next three months before announcing which parties are eligible to take part in the 2009 elections.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata has said the courts will decide which faction of the PKB will be allowed to register with the KPU.

The PKB has been split into two rival factions, one led by deputy House speaker Muhaimin Iskandar and the other by House lawmaker Ali Masykur Musa.

The internal rift started when Muhaimin was dismissed by PKB chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

The two camps held separate extraordinary meetings earlier this month. Muhaimin's camp reelected him party chairman and Azis Mansyur as the party's chief patron. Gus Dur's camp elected the former president as the chief patron and Ali as the new party chairman.

The secretary-general of Muhaimin's faction, Lukman Edy, who is also the state minister for disadvantaged regions, said he was optimistic the internal dispute would be settled in court before Sept. 9.

"I am sure the legal process in court will end before the due date. We still have enough time to assure our constituents the PKB will definitely contest the election," Lukman said.

"The problem is not about PKB's participation in the election -- it's about which camp is allowed to submit the names of legislative candidates."

The South Jakarta District Court will start hearing the dispute on May 15. Lukman said he and Muhaimin would be present at the hearing.

Their camp filed a lawsuit contesting Muhaimin's dismissal and Lukman's dismissal as the party's secretary-general following his appointment as a Cabinet minister in June last year.

Muhaimin approved Lukman's removal at the time.

The faction is also challenging the legitimacy of the extraordinary meeting held by Gus Dur's camp in Parung, Bogor.

Muhaimin said after the extraordinary meeting the dispute would force PKB members to work harder to prevent it from losing votes in the 2009 elections.

The party secured 52 legislative seats in the 2004 election. (dar)