Collective leadership for Muhammadiyah

JAKARTA (JP): The Islamic organization Muhammadiyah has opted for collective leadership to fill the vacuum left when its chairman Ahmad Azhar Basyir died on Tuesday, the official Antara news agency reported.

Muhammadiyah's secretary Dr. Syafii Maarif said in Yogyakarta yesterday that until a new chairman is elected in its 43rd congress slated for Aceh in July next year, the group's vice- chairmen in the executive board will "act collectively in a filial spirit and mutual understanding" to lead the organization.

According to Syafii, Muhammadiyah does not see any candidate yet able to fill Azhar Basyir's shoes because the 82-year-old organization traditionally places more emphasis on religious knowledge and stature rather than intellectual standing to determine its leader.

Azhar Basyir died at the age of 66 in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, in the fourth year of his five-year term as chairman. (17)