ICMI ponders collective leadership system amid new challenges<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) is
\ndiscussing whether to change its presidential leadership system
\nand adopt a collective one as suggested by former president B.J.
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
Support immediately grew for the proposal which was raised by
\nHabibie, a respected figure who cofounded ICMI in 1990, during
\nthe second day of the association's national congress on Monday
\nwhich will end on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the collective leadership system is currently
\nneeded by ICMI to face various challenges ahead in achieving
\nsuccess in its national programs.<\/p>\n
\"If you have only one leader, you will only have one
\nnetworker. But if you have seven leaders, you will have seven
\nnetworkers. That means one problem will be quickly solved,\" he
\nsaid in his talk during the four-day congress in Makassar, South
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"We have to remember that ICMI's future challenges are
\nnumerous and weighty,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Many participants of the congress supported the suggestion
\nthat ICMI adopt such a presidium or collective leadership system.
\nA discussion on the issue started on Monday night.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Habibie's proposal is good. It is suited to future
\nchallenges ICMI may face. But the decision is in the hands of
\ncongress participants. We will accept whatever decision is made,\"
\norganizing committee member Iqbal Parewangi said.<\/p>\n
Senior ICMI figures have agreed to use the ongoing fourth
\ncongress as a \"momentum for ICMI's second awakening\", in which
\nHabibie said the association would return to its \"Islamic,
\nnationhood and intellectual\" roles.<\/p>\n
During the regime of former president Soeharto, the then
\nHabibie-led ICMI was part of crucial political forces that played
\na key role in government decision making. At the time, Habibie
\nwas Soeharto's close confidante who served as the technology
\nminister.<\/p>\n
However, ICMI had no role in the 1998 reform movement that led
\nto the ouster of Soeharto. Its strategic role has diminished in
\nthe post-Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
\"ICMI has so far been shrouded in uncertainty and is almost
\ndisoriented, so that its voice is not heard during the current
\nreform era,\" said Din Syamsuddin, who chairs Muhammadiyah -- the
\nnation's second largest Muslim organization.<\/p>\n
\"It has even been apathetic toward problems faced by Muslims.
\nTherefore, ICMI needs a true intellectual as its leader,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the names of more than 10 Muslim figures were
\ntouted as candidates to contest the leadership race during the
\nICMI meeting on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
They included State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiarto and
\nMinister of Transportation and Telecommunications Hatta Radjasa
\nas well as People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur
\nWahid and Constitutional Court President Jimly Asshiddiqie.<\/p>\n
Also expected to contest the election were former National
\nCommission on Human Rights member Solahuddin Wahid, economist
\nDidik J. Rachbini, Golkar politician Marwah Daud Ibrahim and
\nHabibie's son Illham Habibie.<\/p>\n
However, Sugiharto said on Sunday President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, who opened the congress on Sunday night, did not
\napprove of him entering the race, while Hatta said he was waiting
\nfor Susilo's endorsement of his bid.<\/p>\n
Jimly declined to be nominated, arguing the law prohibits the
\nhead of the Constitutional Court from leading any other
\norganization.<\/p>",
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