REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Secretary general of the United Development Party (PPP) M Romahurmuziy said the party would take firm action against its rebellious cadres. The central executive board of the Islamic party has fired its general chairman Suryadharma Ali, a corruption suspect, with a majority votes in a meeting on Sept 9.

Former Minister for Religious Affairs Ali, named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was replaced by his deputy. Ali and a number of his supporters, however, rejected the decision and called it illegal.

Ali said he could only be dismissed with a decision of a national congress which is to be held next year. He retaliated by announcing the dismissal of Romahurmuziy and a number of other party leaders that voted for his dismissal.

Romahurmuziy had said Ali had violated the party statute by throwing support for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto without prior approval of its executive board.

"But the main reason is that his being a corruption suspect is a disgrace to the party," he said.

The party, therefore, would take action against all party officials opposing the decision taken to fire Ali, he said. The statement by Romahurmuziy followed Ali announcing a new party executive board under him.

Romahurmuziy said the step taken by Ali was against the party decision taken by the majority of the party leaders. He said Ali had acted against the party constitution at least five times. He added that the party regretted the provocative action by Ali against a valid decision of the central executive board.

Opposition to Ali began before the July 9 presidential election when he announced the party joining a coalition under Prabowo who failed to win the presidency. The opposition grew after KPK named the former religious affairs minister a suspect charged with embezzling hajj fund. 

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