Fuad elected as new chairman of KAHMI

SURABAYA (JP): The Corps of the Alumni of Islamic Students Association (KAHMI) ended its three-day congress here on Sunday with the election of Fuad Bawazier as its new chairman, who vowed to keep the organization independent.

Fuad, a National Mandate Party (PAN) member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), promised to keep the independent KAHMI on its current track.

"KAHMI will still be an organization which is concerned with the nation and the country's problems. KAHMI will always be consistent in contributing its best to the country," he said.

Fuad denied that he would take the organization into practical politics.

"KAHMI is a pluralistic organization. Our members have seats in almost all political organizations. If we (KAHMI) are involved in practical politics we will kill ourselves," said Fuad.

Fuad, who eliminated seven rivals -- including Anwar Arifin, Abdullah Hehamahua, Tubagus Nasril, Laode Kamaluddin, Nur Sutrisno, Asri Harahap and Ekky Syachrudin -- replaced Anniswati M. Kamaluddin as leader of the organization for the 2000 - 2004 term.

Around 340 participants from 85 regencies joined the sixth KAHMI congress.

Known as a reputed organization, many of KAHMI's members are noted politicians, including House speaker Akbar Tandjung, and Amien Rais, speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

KAHMI, with hundreds of members throughout the country, was established in Surakarta, Central Java, on Sept. 17, 1966.

Amien Rais, who closed the congress on Sunday, said he expected that the organization would take strategic steps in the economy, education, culture and the nation's morale.

"As an intellectual organization, KAHMI has done many things in the walk of the nation's history. As a member of this organization, I hope that KAHMI will still be critical and independent, with stresses on morale which has long gone here," he said.

In his closing speech, Amien, known as the staunchest critic of President Abdurrahman Wahid, reiterated the national interest, saying that there would not be a doomsday if President Abdurrahman stepped down.

"It is ridiculous," he said.

He admitted to initially supporting Abdurrahman as the fourth Indonesian President. "But it was an old opinion. The new opinion is I may or may not support him. Let's be creative."

Citing political experts, Amien said there was eternal interests but not eternal friends in politics. "The interests of the great nation are here to stay, while leaders may come and go whenever," he said. (nur/sur)