Gus Dur proposes new political system<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Presidential aspirant Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is
\nfamiliarly known, proposed a new political system on Thursday
\nthat he said would guarantee the rights of minority groups.<\/p>\n
Spelling out his political platform, Gus Dur, who was removed
\nfrom the presidency in July 2001, ostensibly for incompetence,
\nstressed that the existing political system did not offer hope to
\nminority groups.<\/p>\n
According to Gus Dur, amendments to the 1945 Constitution had
\nmade Indonesia a completely liberal, Western-style state.<\/p>\n
"My proposal is that there has to be a new political system in
\nwhich the liberal and the old systems are combined," he said
\nduring the launching of a book titled Setahun Bersama Gus Dur,
\nKenangan Menjadi Menteri di Saat Sulit (A Year with Gus Dur,
\nMemories of a Minister in Difficult Times), written by former
\nminister of defense Mahfud M.D.<\/p>\n
This new political system is one of four political platforms
\nthat Gus Dur will try to sell to the electorate in the 2004
\nelection, when the country is expected to hold its first ever
\ndirect presidential election.<\/p>\n
The other three platforms deal with economic orientation, the
\nnational education system, and the country's ethical system.<\/p>\n
A new economic system, according to Gus Dur, is necessary
\ngiven the fact that since 1945 the country's economy had been
\ndominated by big companies.<\/p>\n
"Small businesses have only been exploited to get loans from
\nstate-owned banks through the bapak-anak angkat (foster father)
\nmechanism. But the loans never really reached the small firms,"
\nGus Dur said without elaborating.<\/p>\n
"Why do we need to do something about our national education
\nsystem? Because we have been slaves to certificates, while
\npeoples' capabilities are neglected," said Gus Dur, adding that
\nthe country's educational system had also become money-oriented.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur proposed the adoption of a community-based educational
\nsystem, a system once applied in the country by Catholic priest
\nY.B. Mangunwijaya, since deceased.<\/p>\n
The fourth political platform that Gus Dur offered was a new
\nethical system. He said this was essential as the entire value
\nsystem in the country had become irreparably damaged. There were
\nmany clever and educated people, but at the same time many of
\nthem had also committed various crimes.<\/p>\n
"You may well ask why I do not talk about the national legal
\nsystem. My answer is simple. The existing system is already good,
\nand so are the laws and regulations. But their application is
\nnot. That's why we should not jettison the existing system," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Gus Dur, his four platforms, together with the
\nexisting legal system, would be sufficient to lead Indonesia to a
\nbetter future.<\/p>\n
He also said that if he were in charge, he would ensure that
\nthe country would earn national revenues of some US$44 billion a
\nyear, with the maritime sector contributing up to $30 billion,
\nmining $12 billion, and forestry $2 billion.<\/p>\n
"You can just imagine what we could do with this level of
\nrevenue, can't you?" Gus Dur asked.<\/p>\n
"I can see in the future that Indonesia will become a great
\neconomic power and that within 15 years we will be able to catch
\nup with the U.S. with a per capita income of US$23,000," Gus Dur
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that he had been instructed by four
\ninfluential kyai (Muslim preachers) to run for the presidency in
\nthe upcoming election.<\/p>\n
"I've never forced myself (to run for the presidency).
\nHowever, if I'm instructed by four kyai who represent all the
\nkyai, then I must follow their command," Gus Dur said.<\/p>\n
He was referring to a recent meeting held in Surabaya, East
\nJava, in which four influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) kyai
\nreportedly told Mahfud MD and Alwi Shihab of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) that they had ordered Gus Dur to run for
\nthe presidency in 2004.<\/p>\n
The four kyai were Muhaimin Nadar of Parakan in Central Java,
\nAbdurrahman Chudori of Tegalrejo in Magelang, Central Java,
\nMohammad Subadar of Pasuruan in East Java and Abdullah Fakih of
\nLangitan in East Java.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-proposes-new-political-system-1447893297",
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