PKB’s regional branches in 34 provinces across the country declared their support in official letters to reappoint Muhaimin, who would continue to lead the party for the next five years, said party executive Ida Fauziyah, who led the congress’ plenary meeting.

When asked by Ida whether he would accept the mandate, Muhaimin expressed his willingness to continue his chairmanship – a position he has held since 2005.

“We hereby decide in acclamation to appoint [Muhaimin] and entrust him with the mandate to serve as PKB chairman for the 2019-2024 period,” Ida said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Established in 1998 at the start of the Reform Era, the PKB is currently the fifth-largest political party at the House of Representatives.

The party secured 9.69 percent of the national vote in the 2019 legislative race – slightly higher than the 9.04 percent the PKB gained in 2014 – putting it in fourth in the 2019 legislative election.

The PKB is one of the political parties in the coalition that backed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, both in the 2014 and the 2019 presidential elections.

Previously, a member of the party’s central executive board, Abdul Kadir Karding, said he was sure Muhaimin would be reelected as PKB chairman.

“Who else other than Cak Imin [Muhaimin]? There is no one to challenge him now, he’s already in a very powerful position,” Abdul said.

The PKB had selected Bali as the host for this year’s congress to symbolize the "unity in diversity" motto that the party strives to live by.

This year’s congress was attended by 3,000 participants, consisting of 2,000 party members and 1,000 Islamic scholars. (bry/afr)

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