Amien calls for greater honesty
JAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Amien Rais said yesterday only honesty could save Indonesia from the social turbulence facing it, especially in relation to the upcoming general election.
Antara quoted the chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization after giving a lecture in Canberra as saying that honesty was the key attribute now needed by government officials, intellectuals, religious leaders and politicians to solve the various social upheavals in Indonesia.
Amien said that with honesty the authorities would be able to help calm the public in the wake of the tensions caused by the recent spate of unrest.
He said the episodes of mass turmoil raised serious concerns.
"As an observer, I can feel how chaotic the analyses on the latest developments in Indonesia have been. But I want to point out that the essence of life is honesty.
"If we are committed to solving a problem honestly, God willing, the public will accept it and understand what's going on. They will also be reminded to help solve the problem together," he said.
Amien said the results of a recent poll by the Indonesian National Youth Committee in Malang, East Java, were disheartening. The survey indicated that about 85 percent of youths in the region would abstain from voting in the coming election.
"This is a problem that needs addressing and should be approached with honesty."
Amien was in Canberra giving a lecture on Politics and Islam to the Study Group on Indonesia at the Australian National University. The lecture was attended by noted members of the study group Chris Manning, Harold Crouch, Hadi Soesastro and a number of diplomats and students.
Amien came into the spotlight in Indonesia recently over his resignation as chairman of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals' experts council.
"I resigned because I had not been active and because (I want) harmony (to develop) between the government and the association," he said.
Muhammadiyah has reportedly named Director General for Taxes Fuad Bawazier and scholar Malik Fadjar as possible replacements for Amien.
"Pak Harto himself will name the (new) chairman of the Council of Experts," Amien said.
President Soeharto, in his personal capacity, is the chief patron of the association.
Amien, who several years ago insisted that Indonesia should seek to establish a presidential succession, said that he believed Soeharto would be reelected for another term in March 1998.
As for Soeharto's successor, he said:"Let nature take care of that." (swe)