PPP Party Chairman Ready to Step Down

Jakarta (Antara) - After being named a suspect in the Hajj fund graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Suryadharma Ali announced that he will resign. "As I have been named a suspect by the anti-graft body, I do not wish to hold the post of party chairman any longer. I am well aware of my position," stated Suryadharma Ali after an internal meeting at the office of PPP on Tuesday night, September 9. In the meeting, Suryadharma said that he was willing to resign at the party's congress, where he was first elected the chairman. Suryadharma also proposed that the congress be held on October 22 or 23, despite some members disagreeing to the proposal. The Tuesday night meeting was considered to have a hidden agenda to urge Suryadharma to resign, which came from 26 regional party leaders. "The party's branch does not support the 26 regional party leaders. I was not elected by the party's regional office, but by the party's branch," Suryadharma added. Suryadharma considered the meeting unhealthy and that he had been actually forced to take the decision. In light of the urgent need to dismiss him, Suryadharma left the meeting early saying he had another agenda on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the leadership board held a closed meeting to prepare for the party's congress. Suryadharma admitted that a suggestion was made at the meeting asking him to step down. Suryadharma has been charged with violation of Regulation No. 20/2001 on anti-corruption, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years. (*)