'Amien unfit to contest presidency'

JAKARTA: The split in the Islamic Student Association Alumni Corps (KAHMI) has raised questions about Amien Rais' appropriateness to run for the presidency in 2004.

A member of the KAHMI presidium council, Asril Harahap, said Thursday that Amien, the People's Consultative Assembly Speaker and the National Awakening Party (PAN) chairman, had a potential to create disunity in society.

Asril was referring to Amien's move to encourage the extraordinary congress of KAHMI in Yogyakarta which he closed on Tuesday. The controversial congress elected Fuad Bawazier, a close associate of Amien in PAN, the chairman.

"Amien should not contest the presidency. His behavior goes against his words," Asril said.

He said Amien, as a leading HMI figure, should have pacified the conflict and refrained himself from attending the event.

A number of HMI alumni, including House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, have expressed their concern about a split in the organization. -- Antara