Disasters are God's signals: Amien Rais

Disasters are God's signals: Amien Rais

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The spate of natural and man-made disasters
that have hit Indonesia this month may have been reminders from
Allah that certain people here have strayed from His path, said
Moslem scholar Amien Rais.

Given the recent floods and fires, the plane crash in Bandung
and the sinking of the Gurita ferry in Aceh, which claimed dozens
of lives, the noted scholar said, "There is nothing wrong if we
all carry out introspection and return to Allah's path."

"Don't be arrogant and say that these tragedies were mere
accidents with scientific explanations. Isn't it possible that
they were Allah's warnings to the people in Indonesia?" he said
at a Ramadhan sermon held at Gadjah Mada University on Wednesday.

Amien, who is a Gadjah Mada staff lecturer, said "social
oppression" in this country has become frighteningly widespread.

"It is hard to breathe in this country, where the air has been
degraded in terms of spirituality, discipline and honesty, not to
mention the widespread corruption," he said.

Amien, who is also chairman of the influential Muhammadiyah
organization, has recently become one of the most vocal scholars
and critics of corruption within the administration.

He cited the government's minimum wage policy as an example of
"social oppression".

Minimum wages in Indonesia are already the lowest in the
region, he said. "Even so, many employers still object to paying
them, as if they object to helping their poorer brothers." (har)