Muhammadiyah to question Amien over party founding<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of Indonesia's second largest Islamic
\norganization Muhammadiyah will convene today to question chairman
\nAmien Rais over his reported plan to resign in order to lead the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif said in Yogyakarta Thursday
\nthat Amien had always insisted on the separation of Muhammadiyah
\nfrom politics, including in PAN whose establishment will be
\nformally declared tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"The plenary meeting (today) will decide what we should do
\nabout Amien's position in the organization,\" Syafi'i was quoted
\nby Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Syafi'i, who is also a close friend of Amien, said he was
\nconfident of Amien's loyalty toward the organization. However, if
\nhe decided to lead a political party, he should automatically
\nrelinquish his position in Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
Amien has several times expressed his intention to resign from
\nthe 28-million-strong organization.<\/p>\n
\"Amien's activity with PAN is a political experiment that
\nstill needs to be seen whether it will be successful,\" Syafi'i
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Amien, considered among figures who along with students
\nspearheaded the push for reform earlier this year, has decided to
\njoin forces with senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, political
\nscientist Mochtar Pabottingi and others in establishing the new
\nparty. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muhammadiyah-to-question-amien-over-party-founding-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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