Habibie names friends for his new foundation

Habibie names friends for his new foundation

JAKARTA (JP): Former president B.J. Habibie has named some of
his close friends to the key posts in his new foundation, the
Habibie Center, which could reclaim the heyday of the Association
of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) he founded in 1990.

One of Habibie's colleagues, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, said on
Saturday that the country's third president might stay out of
ICMI and fully concentrate on the center instead.

"He (Habibie) will focus on developing the center," Marwah
said during the opening of ICMI's annual congress here on
Saturday. Habibie failed to turn up for the function, where he
was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech, due to another
commitment out of town.

Habibie is officially still at the helm of ICMI, but became
inactive when he was elected vice president in March 1998 and
succeeded then president Soeharto who resigned two months later.

Under his leadership, a number of ICMI members joined the
Cabinet, thanks to his close relationship with former president
Soeharto, whom he recognized as his mentor.

Marwah, a Golkar Party executive and House of Representatives
legislator, said she had been appointed the center's head of
media development. Former justice minister and state secretary
Muladi has been named the center's head of human rights affairs.

The center's other executives include former education
minister Wardiman Djojonegoro, Jimly Assidiqie and Ahmad Watik
Pratiknya, who were known as all the president's men while
Habibie was in power.

"The center currently groups dozens of activists, but in the
future, we will have hundreds or thousands of members," Marwah
said.

However, she dismissed speculation that the center would help
Habibie run for the presidency in 2004.

"The center is committed to developing human rights and
democracy as well as human resources and maritime development,"
she said.

Habibie announced his plan to set up a foundation which was
aimed at promoting human rights and democracy after the People's
Consultative Assembly rejected his accountability speech in
October.

Since his departure from the political scene, Habibie has not
made any public appearances. He is expected to close ICMI's
three-day event on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, political observer Fachry Ali suggested that ICMI
members should look for Habibie's replacement if it wants to make
a break with the past.

"It's better to choose a person with a more intellectual state
of mind, such as economist Emil Salim," said Fachry, who is also
an ICMI activist.

He suggested that ICMI return to its original mission as an
intellectual organization. According to Fachry, who helped
Habibie draw up his presidential accountability speech, Habibie's
influence led to ICMI being involved in political practices.

To maintain ICMI's independence, Fachry said, it should first
move from its current office, which is in a building belonging to
the State Minister of Research and Technology Office/Board for
Research and Application of Technology on Jl. Kebon Sirih,
Central Jakarta.

Habibie was a long-time minister of research and technology
under Soeharto. Habibie's successor, Zuhal, is also an ICMI
member.

The minister of research and technology under President
Abdurrahman Wahid, Muhammad A.S. Hikam, is a renowned critic of
Habibie and ICMI.

Commenting on Fachry's suggestion, ICMI's secretary-general
and former minister of cooperatives Adi Sasono said: "It's a good
suggestion." (jun)