Desires voiced with motherly love

JAKARTA (JP): There are many ways to promote an idea or aspiration.

To attract people's attention, the Indonesian Muslim Workers Brotherhood (PPMI) used the service of motherly looking women to distribute a media statement at the closing of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on Friday.

Dressed in Islamic outfits, the women greeted people and presented them with the pamphlets.

In the release, signed by its deputy chairman, Amriful Hakim, PPMI demanded that President Abdurrahman Wahid treat Muslims fairly.

"We, PPMI, remind everybody, especially the media to act objectively and rationally in every issue, especially regarding our support for a proposal to adopt the Jakarta chapter in the Constitution," the statement read, referring to a clause which obligates Muslims to comply with Islamic syariah law.

MPR has delayed deliberation of the proposal until next year.

It was unclear how PPMI would succeed in popularizing its desires as most of the pamphlets were given to passersby, instead of to journalists. (dja)