T

he Golkar Party says many of its members have obeyed an edict to leave the National Democrat (Nasdem) mass organization founded by former chief patron Surya Paloh.

“Almost all Golkar members within the organization have forwarded to us resignation letters from Nasdem. We are waiting for some others,” Golkar secretary Idrus Marham told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Golkar previously issued a circular ordering all party members to resign from Nasdem by Thursday or face dismissal.

One Golkar member who resigned is journalist-turned-lawmaker Meutya Viada Hafid. “There is a party internal regulation that I must comply with. I am still a lawmaker from Golkar,” she said.

Meutya was previously a reporter for MetroTV, which is owned by former Golkar chief patron Surya Paloh, one of Nasdem’s founders.

Surya, who is also subject to the dictate, has yet to reveal if he resigned from Nasdem.

Last week, Surya responded the ultimatum by saying that Golkar chairman Aburizal “Ical” Bakrie “has been worried about the political potential of Nasdem, which can harm Golkar’s position in the elections in 2014.”

Other Golkar members in Nasdem ignored the order.

Golkar lawmaker Jeffrie Geovanie said he would not resign from either Golkar or Nasdem.

“As of this moment, I am still a legislator from Golkar and one of Nasdem’s co-founders. I am also a member of religious-based organization Muhammadiyah,” he told the Post through text message on Thursday evening.

Former lawmaker Ferry Mur-syidan Baldan expressed a similar sentiment. Ferry, who heads Nasdem’s organization and membership division, said the party’s dictate was “unclear and confusing”.

“If Golkar’s central executive board insists on firing me under the circular, I can only say go ahead. But I will never resign from my beloved Golkar Party,” he said in an open letter published on Nasdem’s website.

“They failed to learn the difference between organizations and political parties. If they think [Nasdem] will become a political party, they are wrong,” Ferry added.

Golkar politicians dominate the list of Nasdem’s co-founders and many of its executives are Golkar members. A small number of politicians from other parties also hold senior positions in Nasdem.

Critics claim the organization was Surya’s move to build a new political power base after he was defeated by Ical in the tight race to be Golkar’s chairman in 2009.

Nasdem’s senior leaders, however, have insisted the organization is apolitical, even after Golkar issued its circular last week.

The National Democratic Party has registered with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to contest the 2014 polls, while Nasdem claimed that it is unaffiliated with any party.

Such claims are hard to believe. The National Democratic Party and the National Democratic organization share the same office building, and the party’s logo is an inversion of the organization’s logo.

Nasdem executives, however, have admitted they were principally funded by Surya.

Golkar’s circular was issued not long after the existence of Nasdem was revealed.