ICMI expected to shed image as sectarian group<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Political observers are greeting
\nthe second congress of the influential Association of Indonesian
\nMoslem Intellectuals (ICMI) with criticism.<\/p>\n
Muladi, who is rector at Diponegoro University, said here
\nyesterday that the next leadership of ICMI should resolve a
\nnumber of faults which cropped up during its first five years of
\nexistence under the leadership of State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI should free itself from the shackle of its' public image
\nas a sectarian group,\" Muladi told The Jakarta Post. \"ICMI should
\n'expand' and improve cooperation with other organizations of
\nintellectuals.\"<\/p>\n
In addition, ICMI should strive to change the perception that
\nit is an \"elitist\" organization, far removed from the problems of
\nthe people of the lower social class, he said.<\/p>\n
ICMI has been too preoccupied with the \"upper classes\" while
\nthe impact of its activities have yet to be felt by those in the
\nlower reaches of society, he said.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI has done little towards poverty alleviation,\" he said.
\nNeither has it been handling issues which are urgent for the
\nlower class people's existence, such as demolition or
\nunemployment, he further charged.<\/p>\n
Finally, Muladi said, ICMI should promote activities which are
\ndistinctly characterized by the state ideology Pancasila.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto will open the second congress of ICMI this
\nmorning, which will elect a new leadership and prepare a program
\nfor the next five years. So far, incumbent chairman Habibie looks
\nset to retain the top position.<\/p>\n
Some 1,000 leading members from the organization's 434
\nregional branches and units are attending the event.<\/p>\n
Another observer who criticized ICMI was Afan Gaffar, a
\nlecturer at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, who said
\nthat ICMI will be facing at least three huge tasks in the near
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
\"The first, ICMI needs to create a positive public image,\"
\nAfan said, pointing out that the closeness with the power holders
\nthat ICMI has been enjoying presents a special burden for it.<\/p>\n
\"This proximity causes a bad image among the public, who think
\nthat ICMI was established in 1990 only to consolidate power,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, ICMI has so far failed to establish a clearly
\ndefined concept as to where the country should be heading and
\nwhat its role is in the process.<\/p>\n
\"The organization should have established concrete programs in
\nthe fields of science and technology, politics, economics,
\nsocial, culture, security and defense, should the opportunity for
\nthem to run the country appear in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another criticism that Afan leveled at ICMI concerned the
\nstructure of its leadership. The current structure, with one
\nchairman and a number of assistants, creates a \"centralization\"
\nof authority on the chairman, he said.<\/p>\n
\"As a consequence, there is no distribution of responsibility
\nwithin the organization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Habibie launched five books last week, specially
\nprepared for the opening of the congress, at the Hotel Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Two of the books were entitled ICMI: Beberapa Catatan Kritis
\n(ICMI: Critical Notes) and Jejak dan Langkah: Dokumen 5 Tahun
\nPerjalanan ICMI (Tracks and Steps: A Document of the Five years
\nof ICMI's Journey). (har\/swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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