JAKNEWS.COM---One of the two rival camps of the National Awakening Party (PKB) registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta on Sunday, as political parties rushed to meet the May 12 deadline. 

PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar arrived at the KPU office for the registration, which is mandatory for political parties intending to contest the legislative elections in April 2009. 

State Minister for Disadvantaged Regions Muhammad Lukman Edy, the newly elected secretary-general of the Muhaimin-led faction of the PKB, and some 30 supporters accompanied Muhaimin. 

"We submitted all the required documents, including the results of our extraordinary congress in Ancol," said Muhaimin. 

Executives of the PKB faction under chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" said Sunday they would register Monday, the final day for registration. 

"We will return the registration forms tomorrow (Monday). We call on all PKB lawmakers to gather at the KPU office at 2 p.m.," said Effendy Choirie, head of the PKB faction at the House of Representatives. 

The PKB, the fifth largest faction at the House, was divided after party executives loyal to co-founder Gus Dur approved the dismissal of Muhaimin as chairman during an extraordinary congress in Parung, West Java, in late April. 

A rival congress days later agreed to dismiss Gus Dur as the chief patron of the PKB. 

The two factions have filed lawsuits against each other. 

Since the PKB met the 3 percent electoral threshold in the 2004 elections, the party automatically passes the administrative verification at the KPU. 

Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata has said the courts will determine which faction of the PKB will be eligible to contest the 2009 elections. 

The 2008 law on political parties stipulates that the courts must settle any party conflict within three months after the case reaches the courts. 

The KPU has set an Aug. 1, 2008, deadline for parties contesting the polls to submit their candidates lists. A failure to settle the PKB dispute by this deadline could cost the party its participation in the 2009 elections. 

"We hope the courts will put this case on its priority list. We expect to hear a decision in the coming two months, so we will still have time to submit our list of legislative candidates to the KPU," said Muhaimin. 

As of Sunday, 25 political parties have registered with the KPU for the 2009 polls.
 

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