Hidayat new PKS faction chairman

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The Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has elected lawmaker Hidayat Nur Wahid to chair the party’s faction at the House of Representatives.

Hidayat, who was a Jakarta governor candidate, will replace lawmaker Mustafa Kamal to lead PKS’ 57 lawmakers at the House.

“I was told about the decision on Sept. 19 on my way home from an international conference in Thailand,” Hidayat said on Friday.

Hidayat applauded his predecessor, Mustafa, for his chairmanship and said that he would continue to further improve PKS’ performance due to the party’s declining popularity.

“It’s normal for a political party to change its leadership to boost its performance as well as to regain public trust,” he said.

The PKS is expected to officially inaugurate Hidayat’s chairmanship on Sept. 25.