JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) of the United Development Party (PPP), closing Monday (September 15), has affirmed Emron Pangkapi as its new party chairman replacing Suryadharma Ali, who has been earlier sacked from his position.

The PPP’s Rapimnas also mandated Emron to lead the party until the party to hold its chairmanship congress (muktamar) on January to October 2015.

Romahurmuziy, PPP’s secretary general, also explained that Suryadharma’s dismissal was in accordance with article 10 paragraph 2 of the party’s rules (AD/ART).

According to Romahurmuziy, Suryadharma violated article 10 paragraph 1 letter c and d and article 57 paragraph 1 of the party’s rules following the decision from the Anti-Graft KPK that named the former Minister of Religious Affairs as suspect in the haj pilgrimage fund graft case.

Romahurmuziy also added that Emron’s Pangkapi’s appointment as new party chairman is also accordance to article 12 paragraph 1 of the party’s rules.

As reported earlier, a meeting of PPP’s top executives on Tuesday (September 9) has decided to sack Suryadharma Ali and appointed Emron Pangkapi as PPP’s new acting chairman.

Suryadharma, however, refused the party’s decision as he argued that he can be only dismissed through the party’s congress. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)