Habibie hands ICMI control to Achmad
Habibie hands ICMI control to Achmad
JAKARTA (JP): New Vice President B.J. Habibie handed over the
executive chairmanship of the Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI) yesterday to his deputy, Achmad Tirtosudiro.
Habibie, who took the oath of office Wednesday night, will
remain chairman, albeit a non-active one, until the next ICMI
congress in 2000, Achmad told reporters after his election by the
board of executives at a closed-door meeting.
Habibie's tight schedule as vice president would prevent him
from running the organization, Achmad said, making it clear that
the handover was not mandated by state protocol.
Achmad said he would be acting on behalf of Habibie in
managing ICMI's affairs.
ICMI had no plan to advance the next congress scheduled for
the year 2000, he added.
Habibie, who has chaired ICMI since its inception in 1990 and
was reelected for another five-year term of office in 1995, made
a passionate speech at the meeting yesterday, asking ICMI leaders
not to abandon him, according to those present.
Fadel Muhammad, a member of the ICMI advisory board, told
Antara that Habibie begged the members that they continue to
communicate with him as in the past, in spite of protocol
limitations.
"That was an incredible speech. He said `don't leave me alone
in the golden cage'," Fadel was quoted as saying.
Others maintained that ICMI would continue on its current
course and that Achmad would simply continue programs outlined
during Habibie's leadership.
State protocol however requires Habibie to give up many
government positions he has held, including state minister of
research and technology in the outgoing cabinet and chairman of
the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology.
Habibie handed over last week the presidency of three state
companies: PT IPTN (aircraft manufacturer) PT PINDAD (weapon) and
PT PAL (shipbuilding). He holds more than 20 other state jobs
which will also have to be relinquished.
Appearance
Meanwhile, Habibie will make his first international
appearance as vice president by paying an official visit to Japan
next week, diplomatic sources disclosed yesterday.
The Vice President and his entourage will fly to Tokyo
Wednesday and will stay there until Friday.
A diplomat said that Habibie's agenda would include meetings
with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, senior cabinet ministers,
and Japanese business leaders.
"This is a clear message from President Soeharto that Habibie
will play a decisive role in the next five years," the diplomat,
who asked for anonymity, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Habibie's international trip to Japan signals the increasing
responsibility the job will entail compared with past vice
presidents. His predecessor, Try Sutrisno, made only one official
overseas trip during his five-year term, to Australia in 1994.
Hashimoto himself and a 30-strong entourage, including Vice
Finance Minister Eisuke Sakakibara, will arrive here tomorrow
evening for a two-day working visit. (imn/prb)