Doubts and praises for new Muhammadiyah board

Doubts and praises for new Muhammadiyah board

By Santi WE Soekanto and Wisnu Pramudya

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): When preparations for the 43rd congress
of Muhammadiyah began recently, the leaders of the reformist
Moslem organization vowed that it would become a "smooth, cool
and model gathering".

Many people attending the event believed they succeeded
because, apart from the few signs of conflicts among one or two
chairman candidates prior to elections, the congress was
relatively trouble-free and devoid of any attempts at meddling by
external parties.

Even State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie
was reported to have said that, compared to the congresses of
other social or political groupings, Muhammadiyah's was "heaven".

Polarization between leading candidates, intellectual Amien
Rais and senior activist Lukman Harun, was controlled effectively
so that it did not interfere with the whole election process.

Even the re-election of Amien to the helm of the 83-year-old
organization did not come as a surprise; most participants agreed
with the electoral board that the man was the most suitable.

Certainly not everybody is happy.

Since the beginning, Lukman Harun has had a rough ride in the
proceeding. When he entered the race for chairmanship, supported
by some activists of the organization's youth wing, he had to
contend with rumors of a money scandal amounting to Rp 7 billion.

He was only included in the 13-strong central board because of
Amien Rais' grace in embracing his "competitor", many observers
thought.

Yet, Lukman was still upset.

"All that slander I had to face. I'm just a human being and I
was hurt," he said, when someone suggested that he forgive and
forget and try to cooperate the best he could with the other 12
members of the board.

Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youths,
has great hopes for the new board because it includes Lukman. "No
other senior leader has given as much attention toward the youth
wing as Lukman has," he said.

"He has great, innovative ideas," Hajriyanto said of the
former vice chairman known for his close ties with powerful
people in the business sector, including Probosutedjo.

Several people, interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post,
said that, instead of being a sore spot for the new board, Lukman
would be able to control Amien Rais' political alignment.

Amien, who is also an expert on international relations,
stirred up controversies two years ago when he called for public
discourses on succession of national leadership.

A number of people, including political scientist Afan Gaffar,
expressed concern that the inclusion of Lukman in the central
board spells "conflicts".

"He's got the bureaucracy behind him, he's a fighter and not
many people can stand up to him," Afan said.

Others expressed happier thoughts.

Dr. Subki Abdulkadir, a senior activist and former director of
the Jakarta Islamic Hospital, said that, under Amien's
leadership, Muhammdiyah would be "loyal to its mission".

Idrus Tatuhey, a youth leader from Central Halmahera in
Maluku, told the Post that, under Amien, Muhammadiyah would pay
greater attention to the development of Moslem communities in the
less-developed eastern region of the archipelago.

"Last year, we complained about how one school building was a
wreck," Tatuhey said. "Amien listened to us, lobbied the Ministry
of Religious Affairs, which then donated Rp 25 million."

"He listens to our grievances," Tatuhey said.

Ahmad Kasturi and Abdurrahman Ibrahim, two activists from the
provinces of East Java and Irian Jaya respectively, also believe
that the new central board would be solid and build strong
"brotherhood".

"The fact that the board consists of people from various
backgrounds proves that there are no polarized groups here,"
Ahmad said. "As for Amien, we don't have any doubts that he would
be able to lead us. He's a very knowledgeable man."

There are nine civil servants on the board, while the
remaining four are either businessmen or have other occupations.
There are intellectuals and ulemas, as well as the so-called
"government lobbyist" on the board.

"This board is proof that there's no political ruse behind its
establishment," Abdurrahman said. "Those leaders will be solid, I
know."

One of the 13 members of the new board, Sutrisno Muhdam,
believes that, different background notwithstanding, the board
would not face overly stiff conflicts in the future.

"We are Muhammadiyah members before all else," he said. "If I
have to choose between my position as a civil servant and a
Muhammadiyah member, I would certainly take the second option."