Suryadharma still controls PPP

JAKARTA. United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali remains in charge of the party despite a growing internal rift, particularly with his deputy Emron Pangkapi demanding party central board members oust Suryahdarma for breaking the party’s code of ethics.

Suryadharma, who is the religious affairs minister, called party members on Monday evening to call off an internal meeting, which had been intended to discuss the alleged violation he had committed by attending the Gerindra Party campaign two weeks ago in Jakarta.

“To all party members, today’s internal meeting is postponed due to the fact that our legislative candidates are currently busy in their respective electoral districts after the legislative election,” he said in a text message sent to all party executives.

Emron, who initiated the meeting, said that he respected the chairman’s decision to postpone the meeting.

However, he lambasted Suryadharma for not coming to the party’s headquarters to personally inform party members, mainly Emron’s supporters who had been at the party’s headquarters since afternoon, about the postponement of the meeting, .

“The invitation for this meeting was formal, so the cancellation should also be formal, not through a text message,” Emron said.