Fuad elected as new chairman of KAHMI

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)