JAKARTA. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) will announce the individual elected to replace graft suspect Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, with the party's secretary-general Anis Matta and leader of party faction at the House of Representatives Hidayat Nur Wahid as the candidates.

Luthfi was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday in a bribery case centering on the government’s procurement of imported meat.

PKS deputy secretary general Mahfudz Shiddiq told reporters the party's top leaders had chosen the two figures from seven eligible candidates.

"Both [Anis and Hidayat] are quality leaders. The chairman of our Majelis Syuro [religious assembly] is still deciding between the two," Mahfudz said at the PKS' Central Board headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday.

Anis Matta is currently a deputy speaker on economic affairs at the House and Hidayat is a member of the House's Commission VIII overseeing religious and social affairs.

If elected as PKS chairman, Anis or Hidayat must resign from their posts at the House because internal party regulations prohibits double leadership.

The PKS is expected to announce the final decision later this afternoon.

The Jakarta Post

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