He said that based on information from a PPP advisory council leader, 24 regional executive branches had sent letters requesting that Suryadharma resign from his position in the party.

'€œIt will be better [for Suryadharma] to resign rather than be dismissed. Resigning from his position is a much more respectable thing to do. He can only temporarily resign from his position, not fully, because the party'€™s statutes and rules allow him to do so,'€ Romahurmuziy said in Jakarta on Sunday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He said according to article 10 (d) of the party'€™s statutes and rules, any party members who cast aspersions on the party'€™s reputation could be either fully or temporarily dismissed from their position.

'€œIt is in this context that many regional executive branches and ulema have asked Pak Suryadharma to resign,'€ said Romahurmuziy.

He said the party advisory council would hold a meeting to discuss measures that Suryadharma should take regarding his position in the party in near future. He refused to give further details.

'€œThe council has the authority to decide on this. It will announce when the meeting will take place and it will likely be this month,'€ Romahurmuziy said.

Suryadharma resigned as religious affairs minister after being named a suspect in a graft case.

He allegedly committed malfeasance, enriching himself and others, as well as corporate enrichment in relation to alleged irregularities during the 2012-2013 haj program worth Rp 1 trillion (US$86 million). (fss/ebf)

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