Hasyim Widhiarto and Rendi Akhmad Witular, Jakarta – Despite damning allegations voiced by several PKS founders accusing some of the party's key members of embezzlement, unauthorized polygamy and authoritarian leadership, many observers believe the party will not only persevere but continue to thrive.
A core ideology founded on the need to uphold Islamic values and an effective chain of command within the PKS are likely to ensure it retains sufficient support, analysts say.
PKS president Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq said that because the party's members were extremely solid they would not jump on the bandwagon to strike back at Yusuf Supendi and his colleagues over their damaging allegations about the PKS.
"Our members are smart enough to see this conspiracy plot to sideline our party," Luthfi said. "Going forward, we are going to show the public our image based only on achievements not merely on talk." he said.
Yusuf, a senior cleric and one of the party's founders, ran amok, accusing PKS leaders of being corrupt. Among his allegations was that Luthfi had embezzled campaign funds for Adang Daradjatun's Jakarta governorship race in 2007.
Yusuf, who was fired by the party in 2010 for allegedly embezzling the party's fund, has also made a series of media appearances in which he accused PKS secretary-general Anis Matta and his deputy Mahfud Sidiq of committing "unlawful" polygamy.
Yusuf's criticisms of the PKS have somehow received support from the party's other founders, including influential cleric Syamsul Balda, who resigned from the party in 2003.
Syamsul said Yusuf's criticisms had been conveyed to the party's top leaders in 2004, but to no response, forcing him to take the issue publicly in the hopes that the party's members would pressure the party's leaders to change. In their less influential positions, these members cannot be expected to pressure the current leaders to change, according to analysts.
The PKS had around 800,000 registered members as of last year, up from 33,000 in 1999. The cadres are divided into six hierarchies; pemula (rookie), muda (junior), madya (mid-level), dewasa (senior), ahli (expert), purna (complete). Aside from relying on its registered members, the PKS has also groomed sy mpathizers through small Koran recitals and discussions. These are mostly found in high schools, universities and mosques.
The party has targeted to secure at least 15 percent of votes for the upcoming 2014 general elections, and a membership of 2 million by 2015.
During the 2009 election, the PKS secured 10.2 percent or 57 seats of the total 560 seats at the House of Representatives, making it the fourth-largest party after the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), all of which are secular.
"The Islamic-based ideology will remain strong in attracting supporters. The vast and intensive recruitment system has also made the party supporters relatively loyal," Charta Politika Indonesia political analyst Arya Fernandes said.
Indonesia has the world's biggest Muslim population. However, Arya and National University's political observer Alfan Alfian were not convinced the party would net more new supporters in the upcoming 2014 general election.
They said the PKS' ongoing internal disputes would harm its chances of gaining more voters. "The PKS might not lose votes from its existing members, but it would be difficult for the party to attract support from the floating masses if it doesn't do something to restore its image following the dispute," Alfan said.
Aside from its diehard supporters, the PKS' established internal "chain of command" has so far played a vital role in countering political assaults against the party and its high-profile members.
Messages and instructions from the party's highest authority have been passed to its members through regular, small-group meetings, allowing information to circulate quickly among members with minimum distortion.
"This kind of command system allows the PKS to quickly consolidate its members, especially when negative issues about the party occur," Arya said.
Alfan echoed Arya's view, but he suggested the PKS also work to restore its public image following allegations by Yusuf and other founders.
"The PKS can't just remain silent. They must present evidence to deny the graft allegations, otherwise this will undermine their long-standing campaign as a 'clean, caring and professional' party," Alfan said.