Amien Rais wields his influence to get compromise
Amien Rais wields his influence to get compromise
By Asip Agus Hasani and Sri Wahyuni
YOGYAKARTA (JP): National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien
Rais wielded his influence late on Saturday night to prevent a
split in the party by piloting a crucial plenary meeting to
accept a compromise which effectively shelved any decision to
alter the party's platform.
Chairing the meeting, Amien immediately proposed that the
decision to change the party's platform be deferred to the new
executive committee who would then appoint an ad hoc committee to
study the proposal.
He practically shutout attempts by disapproving participants
to interrupt proceedings by excluding any debate.
"If this issue is forced upon us then I personally feel I
cannot take it. Even though I feel capable of presiding over the
People's Consultative Assembly, I do not feel able to handle this
discussion," he told the plenary session, referring to his role
as speaker of the national assembly.
Amien's move stopped what would have been a lengthy and most
likely vicious debate that could have split the party apart.
Proposals to change PAN's platform have been the pivotal issue
of the congress which ends today (Sunday).
Several regional branches and party executives led by A.M.
Fatwa had proposed that the religious term iman dan takwa (faith
and devotion), which contains Islamic nuances, be inserted in the
party platform.
PAN secretary-general Faisal Basri strongly rejected the
proposal, saying it would mean the party would lose its
pluralistic and nationalistic character.
He, along with several other executives, had threatened to
resign over the matter, saying it was not a universal term and
would be associated with Islamic teachings.
Proposals to change the party platform may have been prompted
by PAN's poor showing in last year's general election, where it
polled a mere seven percent of the popular vote.
Since the afternoon, the differing opinions over the party's
platform looked irreconcilable.
The congress' Commission B for ideology and identity ended in
a deadlock as heated arguments, countless interruptions and mike-
snatchings almost sparked a brawl.
Two commission members, Sayuti Asyatri and Dedi Eka Dibrata,
had to be separated to prevent a fist fight.
Meanwhile, the Commission A for party statutes disregarded
other debates and immediately approved of inserting the term
through a vote.
The decision taken on Saturday means that the ad hoc committee
will have about one year to work on the proposal before having to
report its conclusion to the annual working meeting.
"It was the best decision," Amien later replied when asked by
journalist about the compromise he railroaded through. "If we had
been forced to discuss it would have split the party."
Bara Hasibuan, head of PAN's foreign relations department, who
had joined Faisal in his threat to quit the party, welcomed the
intervention of the party chief.
"I'm relieved and appreciate Pak Amien's attitude," he said,
adding that all elements of Indonesian society should be included
in the ad hoc committee.
A.M. Fatwa himself said he also accepted the decision.
"I'm a democrat," he claimed. "I'll accept whatever the
congress decides."