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Zulkifli faces first test to maintain PAN unity
Newly elected National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan is being challenged to keep his party united, which he pledged to do prior to his victory over Hatta Rajasa in a tight election earlier this month, as he rearranges PANâs leadership board
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ewly elected National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan is being challenged to keep his party united, which he pledged to do prior to his victory over Hatta Rajasa in a tight election earlier this month, as he rearranges PAN's leadership board.
Zulkifli has reiterated that he, in an effort to protect PAN from crisis following his election, will involve Hatta and his loyalists in building the party over the next five years. However, concerns loom after the former forestry minister expressed an inclination to place his own men in the party's strategic posts.
Zulkifli's main supporters, former party chief Soetrisno Bachir and cofounder Amien Rais, have been appointed as advisory council chief and honorary council chief, respectively.
Both Soetrisno and Amien were members of Zulkifli's campaign team during the party's chairmanship race and national congress in Bali.
Zulkifli recently revealed that he had spared places for Hatta's loyalists on PAN's central board, an offer that the rival faction has turned down.
'It is more important for us that he [Zulkifli] guarantee that our people who currently hold leading posts at the party's regional branches are not disturbed,' Sulistyowati, a deputy secretary-general during Hatta's 2010-2015 ruling period said on Monday.
Sulistyowati further explained that her faction had received reports of threats over 'arbitrary dismissal' against PAN's local leaders who were affiliated with Hatta, particularly those from the country's eastern regions.
Only a day after Zulkifli officially took over the party's chairmanship from Hatta on March 1, two of Hatta's campaign leaders, Drajad Wibowo and Tjatur Sapto Edy, announced their resignations from their respective positions as deputy chairman and leader of PAN's faction at the House of Representatives.
Tjatur said on Monday that he had officially tendered his resignation from his position at the House.
A supporter of Zulkifli, Mulfachri Harahap, who is currently a deputy chairman of House Commission III overseeing law, human rights and security affairs, is being touted to take over Tjatur's position as leader of the party's House faction.
Amien's son, Hanafi Rais, currently a deputy chairman of House Commission I overseeing intelligence, defense and foreign affairs, is also among the contenders for the party's secretary-general post.
The relationship between Amien and Zulkifli goes beyond that of colleagues as Zulkifli's daughter, Futri Zulya Safitri, is married to one of Amien's sons, Ahmad Mumtaz Rais.
Zulkifli, however, has denied sidelining Hatta's camp, ensuring that 'there will be no chairmanship shift at the House or anywhere else'.
'No one will be stripped of his/her position. Everything will run as normal and in unity under my direction,' assured Zulkifli.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is expected to announce the formation of PAN's central board this week.
