'Amien unfit to contest presidency'

'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