Supporters boost Amien Rais' chances<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Supporters of incumbent Muhammdiyah
\nchairman Amien Rais made a last minute dash to rally support for
\nhim as the congress of the Moslem organization began the long
\nprocess of electing its new leaders.<\/p>\n
Some 1,350 participants, of the congress, cast their votes
\nyesterday to elect the 13 names for the new executive board.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy process, representative of the organization's
\nbranches, from 26 provinces, named 13 candidates out of 40
\ncandidates, who had been selected in a preliminary election.
\nBallot counting began last night and was only expected to finish
\nthis morning.<\/p>\n
The top 13 candidates will then convene and decide among
\nthemselves as to who will lead the Moslem reformist organization
\nfor the coming five years.<\/p>\n
Amien told The Jakarta Post that the election mechanism
\nadopted by the congress was the most democratic. \"I admit it's a
\nbit lengthy, because everything is done manually, but this a very
\ndemocratic procedure,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Up to yesterday evening, support for Amien Rais appeared to be
\nincreasing. A political analyst, who wished to remain anonymous,
\nsaid that some major provinces, such as East Java, Jakarta,
\nCentral Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and South Sulawesi, want
\nAmien to be reelected.<\/p>\n
K.H. Abdurrahim Nur, chairman of East Java branch, said he
\nwould not push his colleagues to name any particular candidate,
\nincluding Amien.<\/p>\n
East Java has the right to cast 170 votes, or more than 10
\npercent of the total votes.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines, speculations have shifted from whether Amien
\nRais would be the top man, to whether the controversial activist
\nLukman Harun would be included in the executive board.<\/p>\n
This discussion was added to by the question as to whether
\nanother leading candidate, Syafii Maarif, who was reportedly
\nLukman's foe, would also be included in the list. The
\nunderstanding was, that if Lukman was included, Syafii would not
\nconsider the position.<\/p>\n
This condition was said to have put Amien Rais in a difficult
\nsituation. He was reported to be in favor of the inclusion of
\nLukman, as a goodwill gesture on his part to amend rifts among
\nleading candidates, which has grown over the past several days.<\/p>\n
Should he take this position, he would then be under pressure
\nfrom provinces which were against Lukman.<\/p>\n
Amien denied holding any grudges against Lukman, or of
\nopposing his inclusion in the central board.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have any personal problem with Lukman, not a single
\none,\" he told the Post, adding that if Lukman obtained enough
\nvotes to be included in the board, he would accept him.<\/p>\n
\"It's okay with me. I don't want to force my own opinion
\nregarding anyone,\" he said. (swe\/Wisnu Pramudya)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/supporters-boost-amien-rais-chances-1447893297",
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