Amien Rais replaced as Muhammadiyah chairman

JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais was replaced yesterday as chairman of Muhammadiyah, an influential Moslem organization, because of his impending chairmanship of a new political party.

He will be replaced by deputy chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif, who will serve as acting chairman till the next leadership meeting.

Secretary of Muhammadiyah's central board, A Watik Pratiknya, said here yesterday that the decision was taken in accordance with the organization's statutes.

"An article in the Muhammadiyah statutes specifically forbids dual posts in political or social organizations which have similar activities," he said.

Amien is set to lead the much anticipated National Mandate Party, which will be formally declared here today.

The party, which will include economist Faisal Basri, senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and political scientist Mochtar Pabottingi, is expected to be a potent new force in the political arena.

In a television interview on SCTV last night, Amien said the decision was fully in line with the organization's statutes; that there were "important ethical considerations" that have to be taken into account if he were to remain chairman of both Muhammadiyah and a political party.

When asked why he decided to relinquish his post at the 28- million strong Moslem organization, Amien said his colleagues, who together pushed forward the reform ideas, urged him "to persevere in driving the reform carriage forward".

Watik said the decision to select Syafi'i as acting chairman came after the executive board agreed to choose between the two deputies.

"Pak Syafi'i and Pak Sutrisno Muhdam (the two deputy chairmen) met and concluded that Pak Syafi'i would assume the caretaker post," Watik said, reported Antara yesterday.

Watik said no date has been set for the next leadership meeting to choose a new chairman.

"There are one or two technical difficulties we have to work out since the last leadership meeting was held recently in July," he said.

In a press statement issued yesterday, Muhammadiyah stressed that there were no formal alliances between it and other political parties, including the National Mandate Party.

To further assert its independence, Muhammadiyah forbids the use of its facilities for the activities of any political party. (mds)