Muhammadiyah asks Mochtar to step aside<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Muhammadiyah has asked controversial scholar
\nMochtar Buchori to step down from his rectorship of its Jakarta
\nteachers training institute, IKIP Muhammadiyah, because of his
\nactivity in the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah Chairman Amien Rais stressed yesterday that
\nMochtar's position as chief of PDI Research and Development
\nAgency could encroach on his time to such a degree as to be at
\nthe expense of his job at IKIP Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
Amien told reporters that Muhammadiyah had nothing against any
\nof its members joining PDI or any other political organization
\nbut they must not hold structural positions there.<\/p>\n
The rectorship of the institute is a full time job, he said.
\n\"It would have been the same had he been the head of the research
\nagency at United Development Party or Golkar.\"<\/p>\n
Amien said the Muhammadiyah board in the past had taken
\nsimilar action against its members in the regions who combined
\ntheir position as Muhammadiyah executive with those of political
\norganizations. Some even had campaigned for the political
\norganizations. They were all asked to choose one or the other.<\/p>\n
There had earlier been speculations that many in Muhammadiyah,
\nan influential Moslem organization, resented Mochtar's decision
\nto join the PDI, an alliance of nationalist and Christian
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Mochtar, a regular columnist for The Jakarta Post, had earlier
\nsaid his chief reason for joining PDI is his admiration for the
\nparty's chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri and her programs.<\/p>\n
Since he publicly announced that he had joined the PDI last
\nyear he has faced dissension from several of his deputies, and
\nprotests from some students at the IKIP Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
Amien said Mochtar did not get along with his deputies in the
\nfirst place and it is not because of his involvement in PDI. \"The
\nresignation of Mochtar in a way is a blessing in disguise because
\nit will allow us to revamp the institute's rectorship.\"<\/p>\n
He said the entire rectorship, including the deputies, will be
\nreplaced because they were elected as a packet. \"We're trying to
\nbe fair and not discriminative.\"<\/p>\n
In addition to his resignation, the Muhammadiyah board has
\nalso asked Mochtar to name candidates for his replacement, Amien
\nsaid. \"He presented four names and we approve of them all. Now
\nit's up to the institute's senate to choose its rector.\"<\/p>\n
\"I think the problem will be resolved amicably in a few
\nweeks,\" Amien added. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muhammadiyah-asks-mochtar-to-step-aside-1447893297",
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