Two academics named for Muhammadiyah Youth top job<\/p>\n
Edith Hartanto and Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post,
\nSurabaya, East Java<\/p>\n
University rector Suyoto and university lecturer Abdul Mukti
\nemerged Tuesday as the strongest candidates for the post of
\nMuhammadiyah youth wing chief.<\/p>\n
As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the election for the leader of the
\ncountry's second largest Muslim organization's youth wing had yet
\nto begin.<\/p>\n
But Muhammadiyah officials said that should another candidate
\nemerge, they would not be surprised.<\/p>\n
"Elections are unpredictable. So, let's wait and see," one
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
Suyoto is the rector of the Muhammadiyah University in the
\nEast Java town of Gresik, while Abdul Mu'ti, a graduate from
\nFlinders University in South Australia, is a lecturer in the
\nWalisongo Institute for Islamic Studies.<\/p>\n
The new leader will likely be elected in the early hours of
\nWednesday morning, according to the youth wing congress's
\norganizing committee members.<\/p>\n
A total of 13 candidates had earlier been selected out of 120
\nleadership hopefuls.<\/p>\n
The majority of votes cast by Muhammadiyah members went to PAN
\nin the 1999 election, a matter which earlier caused some friction
\nat the congress venue, the Asrama Haji in Sukolilo, between
\ncandidates who were officials of other political parties,
\nincluding the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
PAN is led by former Muhammadiyah Youth leader and former
\nMuhammadiyah chairman, Amien Rais, who is now the speaker of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Abdul Mu'ti himself does not belong to any political party.
\nThe congress decided on Monday that a candidate must first resign
\nfrom any political party posts he held in order to be appointed
\nyouth wing leader.<\/p>\n
According to Suyoto, social changes could be more effectively
\nbrought about if Muhammadiyah Youth were to transform itself and
\nfocus on spreading Islam.<\/p>\n
"The core missions of Muhammadiyah need to be actualized,"
\nSuyoto said in his policy statement.<\/p>\n
The former chief of Muhammadiyah Youth in Central Java said he
\ndreamed that the organization would become a reference for other
\nyouth organizations.<\/p>\n
The 70-year-old Muhammadiyah Youth's five functions include
\nseeking out potential members, recruiting potential members, and
\nsending them on peaceful religious missions to spread Islam. But
\nthe organization has yet to produce national oriented programs to
\nhelp solve the nation's economic, social and political problems.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah officials have said that Muhammadiyah Youth
\nshould have a charismatic leader who could help shift the
\norganization's attention from internal affairs and political
\nissues to focus more on secular issues like labor, the Indonesian
\njudicial system, the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, health,
\nthe environment, gender, and the electoral bill.<\/p>\n
"How can they produce national oriented programs when they
\nhave never discussed these issues in the first place?" a
\nMuhammadiyah leader, Rizal Sukma, had earlier said.<\/p>\n
"It is my hope that the new Muhammadiyah Youth leader will not
\nbe sucked into political power plays."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-academics-named-for-muhammadiyah-youth-top-job-1447893297",
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