ICMI accepts Golkar's decision on MPR<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the influential Association of
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie accepted
\nyesterday Golkar's decision to remove five senior ICMI members
\nfrom the faction's nomination list for the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"No problem,\" said Habibie, who is also state minister of
\nresearch and technology. He said his organization, the bulk of
\nwhich was made up of members who were public figures, such as
\ncabinet ministers, never prepared its members for positions in
\npolitical bodies such as MPR.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI has not prepared its members for MPR... because we are
\nnot a political organization,\" he told journalists after
\nattending the commemoration of National Technology Day at the
\nState Palace .<\/p>\n
He said the association's members did not only come from
\nGolkar but also from the United Development Party and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
The unexpected removal of ICMI Secretary-General Adi Sasono
\nand senior members A. Watik Pratiknya, Jimly Ashidiqie, Muladi
\nand Dawam Rahardjo from Golkar's list of nominees for MPR last
\nweek caused a public uproar.<\/p>\n
\"There's nothing wrong if the five members do not sit in MPR,\"
\nHabibie said.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono separately said he could
\nnot understand the outcry over the elimination of the five names
\nfrom the list because it was still too early to talk about the
\ncomposition of the assembly.<\/p>\n
\"The President hasn't even issued a decree on the House of
\nRepresentatives' (DPR) membership,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-strong MPR will hold its general assembly next March
\nto draft broad guidelines of state policies for the 1998\/2003
\nterm and elect a president and vice president.<\/p>\n
The 500-strong House of Representatives will fill half the
\nseats in MPR, while the other half of the assembly will be filled
\nby members of various social groups, such as intellectuals.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said he did not know whether Golkar had selected its
\nmembers for MPR.<\/p>\n
\"What I know is there is still no presidential decision about
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Information R. Hartono recently decided to apply
\nfor membership at ICMI, a step widely regarded as boosting his
\npossible candidacy as the next vice president.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto has given his blessing for the retired Army
\ngeneral to join ICMI. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icmi-accepts-golkars-decision-on-mpr-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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