PKS Religious Meeting in Bali Attracts Tourists' Attention

Denpasar, Bali - A mass religious gathering held by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) by featuring the party's president Muhammad Anis Matta attracted a number of foreign tourists' attention here on Tuesday night. Many tourists hailing from China and South Korea, who initially wished to enjoy nightlife in Bali, turned their attention to a noisy situation where the PKS cadres and sympathizers met in the Denpasar Grand Inna Sanur Bali Beach hotel. Chanting "Allahu Akbar" or Allah (God) the greatest by attendants of the gathering when the party's president Anis Matta entered a hall in the hotel where the meeting took place, made the tourists curious to know. The tourists then walked quickly into the meeting room where the PKS's executive board members from across the country attended the religious meeting. The mass religious gathering is part of the consolidation measures conducted by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) under its new president, Muhammad Anis Matta who replaced Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq. Muhammad Anis Matta was appointed the new party chief on early February after Luthfi Hasan resigned following his arrest by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged involvement in a bribery case recently. Meanwhile, chairman of the party`s supervisory board, Hilmi Aminuddin said, the supervisory board had also named M Taufik Ridho, the party`s executive chairman for youth and professional affairs, as the new party secretary general.(*) Luthfi Hasan has been named suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly receiving bribes along with Ahmad Fathanah over cow meat import. PKS, the Islamic-based party, has recently been confirmed as one of the ten political parties allowed to participate in the next general elections in 2014. (*) (Report by M. Irfan Ilmie, editing by Bustanuddin, check-editing by Otniel )