Gus Dur tells Muhammadiyah, NU to increase cooperation

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid urged on Saturday the country's two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, to step up cooperation for the sake of the nation.

In his speech to open the Muhammadiyah's 44th congress at Senayan Stadium, Abdurrahman, who led the NU for 15 years until last November, praised Muhammdiyah's contribution to the nation, especially in the education, health and economic sectors.

The President also dismissed rumors of a dispute between the two major religious organizations, saying Muhammadiyah and NU were not facing any immense differences.

"We mutually appreciate our differences of views, no one stands higher or lower than the other," Abdurrahman said in his address to hundreds of Muhammadiyah supporters.

Also attending the opening ceremony were several Cabinet ministers, First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who is the former Muhammadiyah chairman. He relinquished his post after founding the National Mandate Party (PAN) in 1998.

Amien was seated at the President's right side. After a successful presidential campaign last October, the relationship between the two reform leaders began to deteriorate. In the latest twist of their bickering, Amien told Abdurrahman to stop making statements until the Assembly's annual session in August.

Amien has also been allegedly linked to attempts to unseat Abdurrahman, which Amien has repeatedly denied.

Concerned about the continuing spat between the two, respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid urged Abdurrahman and Amien to refrain from verbally attacking each other.

In his address to Muhammadiyah supporters on Saturday, Amien called on the organization's members to work together to create a new Indonesia, which he described as a country free from collusion, corruption and nepotism practices.

Amien said he also wanted to see strict law enforcement and equal treatment for all citizens regardless of their different backgrounds.

"In the New Indonesia, there will be no interreligious conflicts which have sapped our energy," Amien said. "Let us move forward together to create a new Indonesia."

Muhammadiyah and NU claim their members are not less than 30 million and 40 million respectively.

Muhammadiyah is well known for its quality hospitals, schools and universities. Many of its members are regarded to have better education than NU members.

Meanwhile, acting chairman Syafi'i Maarif said Muhammadiyah was concerned about the current political and economic situations, which he said had yet to show significant improvement.

As part of its concrete action to resolve the problems, he disclosed that the congress would focus its attention on overcoming the country's crisis, especially in the economic sector.

"Muhammadiyah's program for empowering the economy is focused on tackling economic difficulties in the regions," said Syafi'i, a historian at state Yogyakarta University.

Syafi'i, who has been tipped to take the Muhammadiyah's top post on a permanent basis, pledged to maintain the organization's nonpartisan stance.

"I will risk my neck to make sure Muhammadiyah is not guided toward political practices," he said.

His statement came as a response to the fact that Muhammadiyah supported the foundation of PAN and that some Muhammadiyah members hold posts in the party, which finished fifth in last year's elections.

Another Muhammadiyah figure, A.M. Fatwa, who is also PAN deputy chairman, reminded the organization's supporters of the emotional and historical ties between the two social and political organizations.

The main subject of the four-day congress is to elect Muhammadiyah's new executive board. Former minister of religious affairs Malik Fadjar and Syafi'i have been called the strongest candidates for the chairmanship.

Amien praised the two candidates as the best persons to lead Muhammdiyah. "If I was asked to choose one of them, I would answer 'either one'," Amien said.

The opening ceremony was attended by not only congress participants but also Muhammadiyah members from throughout the country, especially Java.

The congress is being held at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta. Simultaneously, Muhammadiyah organizations for youths and women, Nasyi'atul 'Aisyiah and Ikatan Remaja Muhammadiyah (IRM), also held separate meetings in Asrama Haji Pondok Gede dormitory, East Jakarta.

Muhammadiyah, one of the oldest organizations, was founded in 1912 by Oemar Said Cokroaminoto in Yogyakarta. The organization proved it could survive the colonial era. (prb)