Amien backs reelection of Habibie

Amien backs reelection of Habibie

YOGYAKARTA (JP): More support is coming in for the re-election of B.J. Habibie as chairman of the influential Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).

Amien Rais, a prominent Moslem scholar who is also an assistant to Habibie, said yesterday that ICMI is "not yet strong enough to walk alone and still needs a strong hand to guide it."

He added that there are not yet any contenders for the position who are as well-accepted as Habibie, who is also state minister for research and technology.

"There's no other Moslem intellectual who has as great an acceptability as Habibie," Amien said. "Perhaps, after ICMI reaches its 10th anniversary, it will be able to have changes to its top figures," he said.

Amien is also chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, which has about 28 million members and supporters.

Established in 1991, ICMI currently enjoys the support of an impressive lineup of people, from President Soeharto, who chairs its board of patrons, to cabinet ministers.

The organization will hold its second congress next month, during which it will also elect its chairman for the 1995-2000 period.

As early as August, support began to pour in for the reelection of Habibie, especially from leaders of the Jakarta branch, which accounts for 50 of the organization's 343 units.

Amien himself has recently received the support of the Yogyakarta branch to sit on the organization's 10-member executive board.

Yesterday, Amien praised the achievements of ICMI during its first five years. He admitted, however, that so far the organization has failed to attract young people.

"This is because the mass media are too critical -- and even skeptical -- of it (the organization)," he said, adding that ICMI had also been "less than interested" in understanding and supporting the aspirations of Indonesia's youth.

Another leading ICMI member who is supporting Habibie's reelection is Adi Sasono, who has been followed by the leaders of the organization's Central Jakarta branch.

So far, there has only been one voice against Habibie's re- election. Legislator A.M. Saefudin has called on the organization not to choose Habibie, saying that the man -- often dubbed "super minister" -- should be reserved for the more important position of "statesman". (02/swe)